A Treatise on the Application of Lifecycle Management Principles in Agricultural Biological Engineering

摘要

Life Cycle Management (LCM) is a systematic approach, mindset and culture that considers economic, social, and environmental factors among other factors in the decision making process throughout various business or organizational decisions that affectboth inputs and outputs of a product or service life cycle. It is a product, process, or activity management system aimed at minimizing environmental and socio-economic burdens associated with an organization's product or process during its entire lifecycle and value chain. LCM's application is gaining wider acceptance both in the corporate and governmental organizations as an approach to reduce ecological footprints and to improve the sustainability of human activities. But where and how can it be used in agricultural engineering applications? This study highlights the potential areas of life cycle management application in agricultural and biological engineering and how it can be utilized. The study revealed that life cycle management tools such asdesign for environment and life cycle analysis can be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of - and to improve the products, equipment, and structures produced by agricultural and biological engineers as well as the processes used to generate them.