Conference Papers & Presentations (Sustainable Life Cycle Management)

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Management of imported supply chain products – incorporating country-specific sustainability criteria in life cycle decision analysis
(Going Green, 2002-11-15) Brent, Alan Colin
Sustainability criteria for life cycle management in the South African context differ from other regions of the world. From an environmental perspective, natural water resources are limited and significant losses of topsoil have been experienced, which is seen as an important agricultural resource. Water and land should therefore be considered as specific criteria where certain materials or components in the automotive life cycle rely heavily on these resources, e.g. leather and natural fibres for interior finishing. Also, waste management was not given a high priority historically, which has resulted in the lack of long term planning, information, legislation and the capacity to handle waste streams. Similar to the use of water and land, waste streams that influence the ambient quality of air, water and land resources are important factors in the life cycle management of materials and products imported from South Africa. Furthermore, from an economic perspective, mined resources are important and the impact on current reserves must also be considered together with the other environmental resources. Two examples are given of automotive components exported by the manufacturing sector in South Africa and their related impacts.
Life cycle check as a decision support tool for medical waste management in underdeveloped areas of Africa
(WasteCon, 2002-09-05) Rogers, David E.C.; Rohwer, Mark B.; Brent, Alan Colin
In most developing countries, the emphasis for health care has moved to community preventative services and away from district curative health services, e.g. immunization. Sterilization and reuse is being replaced with single use and disposal to minimize the risk of cross infection. This has lead to larger amounts of infectious waste in underdeveloped areas. The responsible authorities and agencies do not have waste management infrastructure to safely handle and dispose of the waste. Although not recognised as a significant problem before, health care professionals now require allocation of funds that were previously not identified. In Africa where much of the health care currently receives donor funds, these professionals are also obliged to comply with national regulations and international protocols for waste disposal, mostly only known to specialist waste management practitioners. In order to address these problems a Check List has been developed for planning at District, Regional, and National Managerial levels, using a Streamlined Life Cycle Analysis (SLCA) according to ISO 14040. SLCA can evaluate parameters of the waste life cycle qualitatively and thereby reduce the time and cost of conducting a comprehensive, quantitative life cycle analysis. The SLCA was compiled from data obtained through a case study of an African country and was used to evaluate different management options for health care waste in such a country. The checklist is aimed at providing decision makers and waste management practitioners with a tool to prepare budgets and waste management plans. The planning tool will be discussed using a process assessment and a comparison between waste management options.
Saving product lives in global and local remanufacturing networks : a scientific and commercial work report and an outlook
(2003-12-01) Steinhilper, Rolf; Brent, Alan Colin
Remanufacturing which is becoming the standard term for recycling by manufacturing “good as new” products from used products in an industrial (series production) scale, looks back to an almost 65 year long history. It started in the United States of America and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1940 – the time when World War II fully occupied their industries with aircraft, tanks and weaponry manufacturing. While no private car (not to say spare parts) production existed in the US for five years in those times, remanufacturing obviously offered the only way to keep America’s cars on the road. Meanwhile, not only the world wars, but also the cold war belong to history and do not influence our industrial economies too much any more. Industrial production of private industrial products, whether it comes to cars, electric or electronic goods, does not at all suffer from undercapacity any more. In most areas, the ever-increasing productivity has led to overcapacities, making up to date products of the finest technology and performance available in any quantity and at even falling prices. So, where is the chance and where is the future for remanufacturing under such economic circumstances? From the first authors’ work for both the manufacturing and the remanufacturing sector over the past 25 years, extended by an international viewpoint in particular from the second author’s research, the following work report and outlook about remanufacturing can be given in 10 theses.
Effective consideration of relevant sustainable development aspects pertaining to the life cycles of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) eligible projects
(2003-10-20) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Development projects that are potentially eligible for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) funding under the Kyoto Protocol have been validated to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases compared to the baseline. Apart from these positive effects on global warming, the projects must also demonstrate a positive contribution to sustainable development in the host country. The host country has to give a final approval for each CDM project through its Designated National Authority (DNA). The potentially eligible projects within industry sectors are consequently evaluated in terms of positive and negative contributions to the different aspects of sustainable development. Although generic approaches have been proposed, sustainable development criteria must reflect the society priorities of the specific country where a development takes place. Within the South African context, a framework of criteria is introduced to assess these projects. Weighting values are shown for these criteria from the perspective of the manufacturing industry sector of South Africa. The weighting values have been obtained from a survey, which is based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a known Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) procedure. With respect to the environmental sub-criteria, the priorities of the South African national government expenditure are compared to the industry judgements. The results indicate a difference in the weights placed on the sub-criteria. Furthermore, national expenditure on the environmental issues alone shows that the three main sustainable development criteria, i.e. social, environmental and economic, are not of equal importance. A procedure is subsequently proposed to establish weighting values that better reflect the priorities of the South African society, which combines the AHP with known group decision-making techniques. A means to obtain an adequate sample of individuals that represent the different parts of society is presented. The importance of the different criteria must be incorporated into the assessment procedure of the projects. A qualitative procedure is shown to evaluate and compare potentially eligible CDM projects to baselines in terms of contributions to sustainable development in South Africa. A case study in the South African process industry is used to demonstrate the procedure.
Sustainable life cycle management : indicators to assess the sustainability of engineering projects and technologies
(IEEE, 2004-10-15) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Companies that compete globally are progressively more required to commit to and report on the overall sustainability performances of operational initiatives, i.e. undertaken projects or technological innovations. A prerequisite for aligning these operational initiatives with the principles of sustainable development is a clear understanding of the various life cycles that are involved and the interactions between these life cycles. Tools are also necessary to evaluate the sustainability of these integrated life cycles. A detailed examination has shown that the current indicator frameworks that are available to measure overall business sustainability do not effectively address all aspects of sustainability at project and technology management level. A new framework to evaluate the sustainability of projects and technologies in the manufacturing sector is subsequently introduced. An approach to develop indicators that are relevant for the criteria of the sustainability assessment framework are subsequently proposed in the context of the South African process industry. Furthermore, case studies are described whereby these indicators are currently being tested. The way forward to achieve truly sustainable Life Cycle Management (LCM) in the manufacturing industry is therefore outlined.
Opportunities for remanufactured electronic products from developing countries : hypotheses to characterise the perspectives of a global remanufacturing industry
(IEEE Africon, 2004-09-01) Steinhilper, Rolf; Brent, Alan Colin
Global legislative and market pressures are increasingly enforcing the concept of product life cycle management (LCM), or product stewardship, particularly in the electronics sector. Thereby, from an environmental perspective, end-of-life regulations and obligations require the technology managers of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in developed countries to consider remanufacturing and reuse as an attractive economic alternative to expensive recycling and the final disposal of electronic products. Furthermore, developing countries offer an expanding market for affordable quality spare parts, especially for the repair of cellular phones and household appliances. These dissimilar markets could be complementary from the perspective of the remanufacturing sector. Additional requirements of this relatively informal sector in developing countries must be considered, specifically product cleaning processes and test routines that may necessitate the transfer of technologies. Also,training and formalisation are needed to deliver quality services in the repair sector of developing countries. Potential market niches may also exist for inexpensive products from a formalised remanufacturing industry. Therefore, by moving from international isolation to global integration, remanufacturing and repair will profit from networking and synergy efforts in four arenas of the electronic product life cycle chain: market participants, products and applications, neighbouring technologies, and international regions.
Optimising maintenance strategies in the process industry to maximise the environmental performances of assets
(International Conference of Maintenance Societies (ICOMS), 2005-06-05) Botha, Amélia; Van Waveren, C.C.; Brent, Alan Colin
Advantages and disadvantages have been associated with the different maintenance concepts. A major disadvantage of all of the maintenance strategies and related techniques is that environmental implications are typically not taken into consideration during the design stage of asset life cycle management, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. Maintenance strategies have primarily been concerned with cost risk parameters associated with maintainability and reliability only. The potential costs of environmental impacts are therefore not included as a specific risk management parameter in the design phase. However, considering the increasing legislation regarding the environment process industry companies must focus on the environmental impacts of operations and assets. Furthermore, if environmental risk considerations are taken into account during the design stage, problematic and costly cleanup programmes may be avoided during later asset life cycle stages. This paper proposes a modification of current maintenance strategies to adequately consider the environmental impacts of assets during maintenance cycles. Case studies in the South African process industry are subsequently used to demonstrate the incorporation of available environmental management tools and approaches into the maintenance management strategies and techniques.
A sustainability cost accounting methodology for technology management in the process industry
(International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT), 2005-05-20) Van Erck, Ron P.G.; Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Decision-makers in the South African process industry have communicated the need to express all aspects of sustainable development into monetary terms for internal decisions. Especially where new technology developments are undertaken, the region-specific positive and negative impacts should be reflected in the financial evaluations of the related projects. A framework of criteria is introduced to incorporate all aspects of sustainable development of operational initiatives, such as technology management, into the assessment process during project Life Cycle Management (LCM) as a strategic competence. The criteria consider the two life cycles that are fundamental to managers in this process industry sector during project LCM: the asset life cycle that is required to manufacture products, and the product life cycle from which income is derived. The economic criteria of the framework are centred on the internal financial feasibility of a project, whereas environmental criteria are concerned with the external impacts of the asset and product life cycles. The social criteria include both internal and external aspects that are influenced by operational initiatives. A Sustainability Cost Accounting (SCA) methodology is introduced to translate the framework criteria (where possible) into monetary indicators. Existing methodologies from developed countries are adapted for the economic and environmental criteria. In these cases price indexes and discounting is used to obtain monetary values throughout the life of the implemented project. The monetary conversions of the social criteria are region-specific and consider the expenditures for and contributions of the technology to society over its life cycle. A case study in the South African context (to manufacture Gas-To-Liquid diesel) is used as basis to demonstrate the SCA methodology.
Sustainable life cycle management : a case study in the process industry to develop a calculation procedure for social indicators following conventional LCIA methods
(2005-02-20) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Social criteria have been proposed to evaluate the sustainability of operational initiatives in the process industry through an integrated Life Cycle Management (LCM) approach. Indicators for these social criteria are subsequently introduced. The calculation of the indicators follows conventional LCIA methods, and specifically the distance-to-target approach for normalisation, whereby a societal footprint is used to establish the significance of social impacts. However, the practicability of these indicators is highly dependent on the availability of information where an operational initiative is assessed. A case study in the South African process industry is used to demonstrate the calculation procedure. Further case studies are required in order to refine the social criteria, and indicators, that are practical for management purposes in the process industry.
Selection of sustainable rural agriculture projects in South Africa : Case studies in the LandCare programme
(IEEE, 2005-09-01) Mulder, Jacques; Brent, Alan Colin
The degradation of natural resources has a direct and significant impact on those living in rural areas. The resultant increasing pressure that is placed on the livelihoods of rural people leads to desperate and poor agricultural practices, which in turn cause further degradation of natural resources. The LandCare programme of the South African national government aims to address these problems by facilitating rural agricultural projects that are sustainable in the long-term. This paper summarises the development of a new set of project selection criteria for the evaluation of project proposals in order to compile an effective LandCare programme portfolio. The new project selection criteria were developed through a review of current literature, existing criteria applied in previously selected projects and interviews with key stakeholders during project site visits. These site visits were also used to determine criterion weights, which were calculated using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a known decision-analysis technique. The established set of criteria was applied to three case studies in South Africa, through which an evaluation procedure is further demonstrated. Thereby a successful project portfolio can be ensured that is dedicated to all three components of sustainable development in rural areas.
Selection of sustainable rural agriculture projects in South Africa : Case studies in the LandCare programme
(2005-09-01) Mulder, Jacques; Brent, Alan Colin
The LandCare programme of the South African national government aims to address problems associated with the degradation of natural resources by facilitating rural agricultural projects that are sustainable over their entire lifecycles. This paper summarises the development of a new set of project selection criteria for the evaluation of project proposals in order to compile an effective LandCare programme portfolio. The new project selection criteria were developed through a review of current literature, existing criteria applied in previously selected projects and interviews with key stakeholders during project site visits. These site visits were also used to determine criterion weights, which were calculated using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a known decision-analysis technique. The established set of criteria was applied to three case studies in South Africa, through which an evaluation procedure is further demonstrated. Thereby a successful project portfolio can be ensured that is dedicated to all three components of sustainable development in rural areas.
Establishing an environmental profile of water supply in South Africa
(2006-11-11) Brent, Alan Colin
The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase of life cycle assessments (LCAs) evaluates the potential environmental impact profiles of industrial activities throughout the life cycles of products and processes. The LCIA procedure is dependent on a comprehensive life cycle inventory (LCI) of the evaluated life cycle system. Water usage is included in LCIs, and is incorporated in LCIA procedures as direct extraction from available resources. However, the environmental burdens associated with water supply extend beyond extraction and includes non-renewable energy use, materials use, land use, and pollution of air, soil and water resources. A LCA study was subsequently undertaken to identify key environmental aspects that should be considered where water is used in the manufacturing sector of South Africa, and to identify possible shortcomings in the LCA tool. It is concluded that the extraction of the required water from nature to supply potable water is in fact the most important consideration, and water-losses in the supply system must receive attention, especially in the municipal-controlled part. Water quality impacts are also important, although through supporting processes, and specifically electricity generation. The boosting requirements attribute most to the electricity dependency of the studied life cycle system. However, a number of data gaps were identified and recommendations are made to improve such future LCA studies in the South African context.
Application of AHP for the development of waste management systems that minimize infection risks in developing countries : case studies Lesotho and South Africa
(WasteCon, 2006-09-05) Rogers, David E.C.; Ramabitsa-Siimane, Tsaletseng S.M.; Rohwer, Mark B.; Brent, Alan Colin
This paper focuses on the establishment of waste management systems that minimize infection risks in the context of sustainable development in the developing country situations. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a known multi-criteria decision-analysis approach, has been incorporated with international Life Cycle Management best practice to subsequently develop a decision support tool (WasteOpt) to optimise developing country rural Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) systems to address a main objective of HCWM systems, i.e. to minimize infection of patients and workers, and the public within the system. The tool was applied to two case studies: the sub-Saharan African countries of Lesotho and South Africa. Quantitative weightings from the AHP are used to identify alternative systems that have similar outcomes in meeting the systems objective, but may have different cost structures and infection risks. The two case studies illustrate how the WasteOpt tool can be used (with strengths and weaknesses) in waste management decision support.
Sustainability science and the management of renewable energy technologies
(International Council for Science, 2007-06-15) Rogers, David E.C.; Brent, Alan Colin
The emerging field of sustainability science recognises the important role of technologies in reaching the conditional goals of sustainable development. Research in sustainable technologies requires transdisciplinarity to determine the resilience, adaptive capacity, and complexity of social-ecological systems to assess the potential of such technologies for increasing the carrying capacity and improve the resilience of social-ecological systems. The paper provides an overview of the field of technology management as it relates to sustainability science in general and then addresses the primary objective of the conducted research, which was to introduce a model for prioritisation of assessable sustainability performance indicators to manage renewable energy technologies. The model is based on the Kolb learning cycle, and thereby acknowledges the vital need for continual interaction between different entities and components of typical social-ecological systems, where specific technologies are to be introduced, to understand the key interactions within the sub-systems, also termed holons, that need to be assessed. The model is demonstrated with a case study in a rural village of South Africa, where an integrated renewable energy technological system was implemented. The application of the prioritised indicators is compared with the perceived overall performance of the technological system. The study confirms that much research is still required to assess the true sustainability of introduced technological systems. Recommendations are made accordingly.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) during project execution phases : Development of a stage-gate project management model for the process industry
(International Association for Impact Assessment, 2005-08-05) Petrick, Werner; Brent, Alan Colin
Companies in the process industry manage numerous projects, which differ in size, capital expenditure and environmental aspects. Although environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are required for all these projects, the EIAs consequently range in comprehensiveness from screening to full EIAs. Due to market demands the projects are typically on extremely tight schedules. Project managers therefore need to ensure the proper alignment of project lifecycles with various other processes, of which the EIA process is one. The South African EIA legislation fails to take project life cycles or gate reviews into considerations. A literature review was conducted in order to compare the South African EIA process with various international approaches, as well as to determine the various project lifecycles that are applicable to the process industry. Based on the literature review findings a questionnaire was compiled and distributed to various stakeholders that participate in EIAs, i.e. EIA consultants and environmental specialists. The survey established the specific model that is usually followed when conducting an EIA in South Africa, and focused on the specific stages of an EIA in relation to the project execution lifecycle phases. The survey ascertained problems that currently exist with the EIA procedure in the process industry, which relate to the poor alignment of the EIA process with the project lifecycle. These problems negatively affect the efficiency of project management practices in South Africa (and elsewhere). Possible solutions to these identified problems are discussed and a stage-gate model is subsequently proposed, whereby the proper alignment of the EIA process followed in South Africa and the project lifecycle is ensured.
Sustainable life cycle management : development of social indicators for technology management in the process industry of South Africa
(Portland International Conference for the Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), 2005-07-29) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Corporations are increasingly pressurised to commit to and report on the overall sustainability performances of operational initiatives, i.e. undertaken projects or technological innovations. A prerequisite for aligning these operational initiatives with the principles of sustainable development is a clear understanding of the various life cycles that are involved and the interactions between these life cycles. Such a holistic Life Cycle Management (LCM) approach therefore requires an effective integration of different life cycles that are fundamental to the manufacturing sector, i.e. projects that drive internal change, assets (or technologies) that are required to manufacture products or supply services, and products (or services) from which income is derived. From a technology management perspective, tools are necessary to evaluate the sustainability of these integrated life cycles. Social indicators are subsequently introduced to evaluate the sustainability of operational initiatives in the process industry through an integrated Life Cycle Management (LCM) approach. The indicators consider the social footprint in a specific region where a process technology will be deployed in order to evaluate its potential social impacts. However, the practicability of these indicators is highly dependent on the availability of information where a technology is assessed. A case study in the South African process industry is used to demonstrate the calculation procedure. Further case studies are required in order to refine social indicators that are practical for technology management purposes in the process industry.
Technology life cycle management : challenges to manage the R&D process
(Life Cycle Management, 2007-08-20) Brent, Alan Colin
The complexity of integrating the concept of sustainable development and the reality of technology or innovation management practices has been argued. The purpose of the research was to establish a conceptual framework of the technology management field of knowledge and identify the departure point for further research in terms of incorporating the concept of sustainable development into the field. From a review of the literature it is concluded that sustainability aspects are not addressed adequately in technology management theories and practices. The subsequent conceptual framework defines the context better in which sustainable technology management should occur. Emerging technology management practices related to sustainable development do emphasise the focus on technology strategy, selection and transfer, especially between developed and emerging economies. At the core of these issues lies technology assessment that also forms part of other technology frameworks and methodologies. For the departure point for further research it is therefore recommended to concentrate on the development of technology assessment methods, based on the modification of the Technology Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Space Map analytical techniques, that incorporate the dynamic interactions between nature and society that is researched in the newly established field of sustainability science.
Sustainable project life cycle management : aligning project management methodologies with the principles of sustainable development
(2004-06-01) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Industries are increasingly pressurised to incorporate the objectives of sustainable development into company policies and decision-making processes, i.e. social equity, economic efficiency and environmental performance. Furthermore, companies that compete globally are increasingly required to commit to and report on the overall sustainability performances of operational initiatives. Project management methodologies are not excluded from this pressure. As a recognised core business competency, project management methodologies must thus incorporate planning, execution and implementation procedures within the broader sustainability framework, i.e. internalising the externalities of a project. An evaluation of the project Life Cycle Management (LCM) methodologies in industry has revealed that the three objectives of sustainable development are not efficiently addressed, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. Also, the current indicator frameworks that are available to measure overall business sustainability do not effectively address all aspects of sustainability at operational level. A prerequisite for aligning project management frameworks with the principles of sustainable development is a clear understanding of the various life cycles involved in a project and the interactions between these life cycles, and the external environment and society. In the context of the process industry, social aspects and impacts are rarely considered during project management, while environmental factors are typically only addressed by means of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). In addition, the traditional project appraisal approach can lead to outcomes that are unacceptable from the point of view of intergenerational fairness, which is one of the core principles of sustainable development. However, a procedure to improve the consideration of environmental aspects in project LCM has been introduced in the process industry of South Africa. The procedure is demonstrated by means of a case study in the process industry. A framework of social sustainability criteria that are relevant to projects within the process industry is further proposed. In contrast to previous social evaluation approaches, the framework focuses on the operational aspects of the process industry, i.e. where implemented projects impact society. The acceptance of the framework to decision-makers in petrochemical companies is discussed. Case studies are further suggested to evaluate the practicability of measurable social impact indicators for project LCM.
Towards social indicators for project life cycle management purposes
(International Association for Impact Assessment, 2006-05-15) Labuschagne, Carin; Brent, Alan Colin
Industry has experienced a shift in stakeholder pressures from environmental to social-related concerns, where new developments in the form of projects and technologies are undertaken. However, the measurement of social impacts and the calculation of suitable indicators are less well developed compared to environmental indicators in order to assess the potential liabilities associated with undertaken projects and technologies. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure is subsequently introduced based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs). The practicability of the SII procedure is demonstrated in the context of the process industry in South Africa. The case studies establish that social footprint information as well as project- and technology social data are not readily available in the South African process industry. Consequently, the number of social categories that can be evaluated are minimal, which results in an impaired social picture when compared to the environmental dimension. It is concluded that a quantitative social impact assessment method cannot be applied for project and technology life cycle management purposes in industry at present. It is recommended that checklists and guidelines be used during project and technology life cycle management practices.
The transfer of energy technologies in a developing country context - towards improved practice from past successes and failures
(World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2007-06-01) Mabuza, Lindiwe O.K.; Mapako, Maxwell; Brent, Alan Colin
Technology transfer of renewable energy technologies is very often unsuccessful in the developing world. Aside from challenges that have social, economic, financial, institutional and environmental dimensions, technology transfer has generally been misunderstood, and largely seen as mere delivery of high tech equipment from developed to developing countries or within the developing world from R&D institutions to society. Technology transfer entails much more, including, but not limited to: entire systems and their component parts, know-how, goods and services, equipment, and organisational and managerial procedures. Means to facilitate the successful transfer of energy technologies, including the sharing of lessons are subsequently extremely important for developing countries as they grapple with increasing energy needs to sustain adequate economic growth and development. Improving the success of technology transfer is an ongoing process as more projects are implemented, new problems are encountered and new lessons are learnt. Renewable energy is also critical to improve the quality of lives of the majority of people in developing countries. In rural areas energy is primarily traditional biomass. The consumption activities typically occur in an inefficient manner, thus working against the notion of sustainable development. This paper explores the implementation of technology transfer in the developing world (sub-Saharan Africa). The focus is necessarily on RETs since most rural energy initiatives are RETs-based. Additionally, it aims to highlight some lessons drawn from the cited RE projects and identifies notable differences where energy technology transfer was judged to be successful. This is done through a literature review based on a selection of documented case studies which are judged against the definition provided for technology transfer. This paper also puts forth research recommendations that might contribute to improved technology transfer in the developing world. Key findings of this paper include: Technology transfer cannot be complete without satisfying pre-conditions such as: affordability, maintenance (and associated plans), knowledge and skills transfer, appropriate know how, ownership and commitment, ability to adapt technology, sound business principles such as financial viability and sustainability, project management, relevance and many others. It is also shown that lessons are learnt in both successful and unsuccessful projects.

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