An Environmentally Conscious Decision Support System for Life‐Cycle Management

An Internet‐based environmentally conscious decision support tool (EcoDS) has been developed for life‐cycle management EcoDS involves an initial vertical streamlining step, where the significant life‐cycle stages, stressors, and impact categories are selected and cross‐correlated. Because the streamlining is performed prior to the inventory, the approach expedites data collection. Comparisons among alternative product designs or manufacturing processes are based on two metrics: financial risk (or cost) and “residual” risk. For purposes of evaluation these two indicators are individually aggregated using a user or organization‐specified value system. A salient feature of EcoDS is that this output can be condensed into a single summary matrix akin to a hybrid pro forma income statement and environmental balance sheet. The clear delineation between the tradeoffs involved in each alternative facilitates decision making by upper management. A case study on painting attematives is presented to illustrate the methodology