TOLERANCE OPTIMIZATION FOR ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY USING RD&T
Last modified: 2014-09-11
Abstract
Product developers choose tolerances to go along with every geometric
dimension, and they typically do so based on how the tolerances influence
variation in so-called “critical” dimensions of the final assembled product.
A common decision-making approach is to minimize costs given some
acceptable critical dimensional variation, but this strategy often conflicts
with ecological sustainability objectives. This paper introduces a new
approach to simultaneously considering the ecological and economic
consequences of tolerances through a software tool that combines Robust
Design and Tolerancing (RD&T) with Environmental Priority Strategies in
product development (EPS). This allows designers to simultaneously assess
the economic and ecological sustainability outcomes associated with
geometry, material, and tolerance choices, and it is demonstrated through
design optimization of an automotive part.
dimension, and they typically do so based on how the tolerances influence
variation in so-called “critical” dimensions of the final assembled product.
A common decision-making approach is to minimize costs given some
acceptable critical dimensional variation, but this strategy often conflicts
with ecological sustainability objectives. This paper introduces a new
approach to simultaneously considering the ecological and economic
consequences of tolerances through a software tool that combines Robust
Design and Tolerancing (RD&T) with Environmental Priority Strategies in
product development (EPS). This allows designers to simultaneously assess
the economic and ecological sustainability outcomes associated with
geometry, material, and tolerance choices, and it is demonstrated through
design optimization of an automotive part.
Keywords
tolerance specification; variation propagation; sustainability; life cycle assessment; multi-objective optimization
References
Deb, K. (2001). Multi-Objective Optimization Using Evolutionary Algorithms. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Söderberg, R., Lindkvist, L. (1999). Computer Aided Assembly Robustness Evaluation. Journal of Engineering Design, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 165-181.
Steen,B (1999) A Systematic Approach to Environmental Priority Strategies in In Product Development (EPS). Version 2000 – General System Characteristics (CPM 1999:4). Gothenburg, Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology, Centre for Environmental Assessment of Products and Material Systems.
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