Methodology for the design of sustainable production systems

The demand for a continuous improvement of production systems to meet the requirements of a sustainable development has lead to a complex situation, as economic, ecological and social requirements simultaneously have to be considered. This situation is a challenge for many production companies, as different design parameters have different impacts on production system capabilities. A decision support is necessary for the identification of appropriate design parameters and the prioritisation of specific measures. This paper presents a methodology and an implemented software prototype that support companies to identify and prioritise design parameters for strategic and sustainability-oriented production system design.