Environment–Friendly manufacturing and support—Issues and challenges

Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing and Product Support (ECMPS) is an important issue driven by concern for the escalating deterioration of the environment. ECMPS involves integrating environmental thinking into the design of a product, the selection of materials, manufacturing processes, delivery and support to consumers, and end-of-life management of the product after its useful life has ended. Both academia and industry are interested in finding solutions in this newly emerging research area. Related are the researches on pollution prevention, remanufacturing, disassembly, life cycle of products, after–sale support and material recovery. The aim of this study is to emphasize the effects of product design, operation, maintenance and disassembly on the environment, and how these issues can be considered in the manufacturing phase to minimize any negative environmental impact.