Product Design and Manufacturing Considering Design for Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainable product design is getting more recognition today as it considers environmental, social, and economic parameters for developing new products. Sustainable product design has a long-term perspective at its core. This research demonstrates innovative product designs and how they contribute to sustainability and decrease adverse environmental impacts. SolidWorks software is used to develop 3D models of the products, and further sustainability analysis is performed by considering the life cycle assessment (LCA), waste reduction, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life. Sustainability analysis gives an overall comparison of existing products and proposed designs concerning environmental impact. The prototypes of the designed products are manufactured with a 3D printer using fused deposition modeling (FDM). 3D printing with PLA material made us manufacture customizable, lightweight, and eco-friendly products. The results show that impacts like Carbon dioxide emission, Water Eutrophication, Air acidification, and energy consumption are reduced by 2-40 % with sustainable model design and 3D manufacturing methods. The results show a decrease in the weight of material, thereby increasing profit margins and prolonging the life of components. The research may continue with a cost-benefit analysis and techno-economic viability of the 3D printed products.