Publication
This chapter concerns the use of computing for ecological evaluation in the manufacturing industry. Here, ecological evaluation means identification and quantisation of various manufacturing process characteristics from the point of view of the environment. Manufacturing is a complex process with many different interactions between the parameters controlling the manufacturing machine tools. In the past, manufacturing planners and operators have set these parameters without understanding the consequences, leading to waste of energy, cutting fluid, and so on. This chapter presents a computer tool for evaluating and quantifying the effects of different manufacturing choices using chosen criteria. The tool was implemented as part of the work for a European project. It is based on an extensive analysis of machine tools to provide a way of handling the complexities of understanding the use phase of products.