Transparency as an integrated aspect
Life Cycle Engineering analyses products, processes, and services from an ecological, economic, social, and technological viewpoint. This analysis extends over the entire life journey – from the extraction of raw materials, through production and use, up to end of life. This is all based on the analysis of life cycle-related process chains, and material and energy flows. With a broad coverage of all three pillars of sustainability, complex issues can be solved that require consideration of ecological, economic, social, and technical aspects. Depending on the objective, the analysis of individual aspects is also possible and appropriate. In addition to individual decisions, the optimization of a system or of specific innovations can also be the aim and the subject of Life Cycle Engineering. The particular benefits of Life Cycle Engineering are derived from the consistent analysis of a system from several perspectives; this paves the way for new findings and prevents one-sided decision making. Life Cycle Engineering thus helps reduce risks and identify opportunities.
The networking of knowledge
The ecological, economic, and social aspects increasingly intensify the competitive situation of a globalized economy. The increasing complexity of the issues involved not only motivates individual branches of industry to carry out an analytical review of existing structures and patterns of activity, but also provides impetus for new research projects and scientific work, also on a European level, and on a public level in Germany. The scientists’ wealth of experience and their expertise are the decisive success factors in drawing up new strategies and in developing new methods and calculation algorithms.
The Life Cycle Engineering Department is subdivided into three working groups, which carry out fundamental research in their respective fields as well as devising scientific methods in sector- or product-related and interdisciplinary activities. In this process, networking is a dynamic discipline that ensures an open communication structure and extends to project-dependent regrouping. This cooperative approach based on division of labor is aimed at achieving optimal project results.
Transfer of knowledge
Existing expertise is conveyed to the students of technical disciplines in lectures. The engineering background, extensive experience in projects, and the successful combination of research and practical industrial application yield high-quality, reliable, customer-oriented solutions. The tools and databases developed are used for sustainability assessment in all branches of industry worldwide and in research and consultancy.
stage photo: © Settaphan Rummanee/shutterstock