319
© The Author(s) 2015
G. Sonnemann, M. Margni (eds.), Life Cycle Management,
LCA Compendium – The Complete World of Life Cycle Assessment,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7221-1_23
Chapter 23
Implementing Life Cycle Engineering
in Automotive Development as a Helpful
Management Tool to Support Design
for Environment
Florian Broch, Jens Warsen, and Stephan Krinke
Abstract This chapter describes the implementation of life cycle engineering, a
life cycle management component that focuses on the environmental performance
improvement, in the context of automotive design for environment. The purpose of
life cycle engineering is to derive measurable technical targets from life cycle
assessment (LCA). This approach is described using the example of lightweight
design. The progress in this methodology is the ability to calculate measurable targets – such as weight reduction, fuel reduction on a vehicle level, or the amount of
secondary material – on the basis of LCA results. It is important to note that LCA is
not used here for comparing the environmental performance between competing
materials or technologies. Instead, life cycle engineering, as a helpful management
tool to support design for environment, shows the technical roadmap of measures
that must be taken in order to assure environmental progress over the entire life
cycle. In doing so, this tool supports putting life cycle assessment results into business practice.
Keywords Life cycle engineering • Automotive • Design for environment •
Lightweight design • Life cycle management
1 Introduction
Life cycle management (LCM) is a management concept used by businesses to
ensure a continuous sustainable performance improvement of their activities (UNEP/
SETAC 2009). It aims at minimize environmental and socioeconomic burdens in the
F. Broch • J. Warsen • S. Krinke (*)
Volkswagen AG, Environmental Affairs Product,
Letter box 011/1774, 38436 Wolfsburg, Germany
e-mail: stephan.krinke@volkswagen.de
© The Author(s) 2015
G. Sonnemann, M. Margni (eds.), Life Cycle Management,
LCA Compendium – The Complete World of Life Cycle Assessment,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7221-1_23
Chapter 23
Implementing Life Cycle Engineering
in Automotive Development as a Helpful
Management Tool to Support Design
for Environment
Florian Broch, Jens Warsen, and Stephan Krinke
Abstract This chapter describes the implementation of life cycle engineering, a
life cycle management component that focuses on the environmental performance
improvement, in the context of automotive design for environment. The purpose of
life cycle engineering is to derive measurable technical targets from life cycle
assessment (LCA). This approach is described using the example of lightweight
design. The progress in this methodology is the ability to calculate measurable targets – such as weight reduction, fuel reduction on a vehicle level, or the amount of
secondary material – on the basis of LCA results. It is important to note that LCA is
not used here for comparing the environmental performance between competing
materials or technologies. Instead, life cycle engineering, as a helpful management
tool to support design for environment, shows the technical roadmap of measures
that must be taken in order to assure environmental progress over the entire life
cycle. In doing so, this tool supports putting life cycle assessment results into business practice.
Keywords Life cycle engineering • Automotive • Design for environment •
Lightweight design • Life cycle management
1 Introduction
Life cycle management (LCM) is a management concept used by businesses to
ensure a continuous sustainable performance improvement of their activities (UNEP/
SETAC 2009). It aims at minimize environmental and socioeconomic burdens in the
F. Broch • J. Warsen • S. Krinke (*)
Volkswagen AG, Environmental Affairs Product,
Letter box 011/1774, 38436 Wolfsburg, Germany
e-mail: stephan.krinke@volkswagen.de