The design for environmental compliance workbench tool

The development of environmentally superior and compliant products and process is extremely important for electronic and vehicle manufacturers operating in, and servicing European markets. This is because of the existence of legislative drivers (Waste from Electronic and Electrical Devices, and End of Life Vehicle Directives), Standards (ISO 14000, EMAS) and increasing consumer pressure for the development of environmentally superior products. Design for the Environment represents an effective strategy for developing environmentally superior and compliant products (ESCP) and as an approach it needs to be implemented as early as possible in the design process. This paper describes a new framework for DFE methodology and tool development. A new CAD integrated DFE tool, called the Design for Environmental Compliance Workbench, which has been developed based on this new framework is also described.