Handbook of Life Cycle Engineering

Book excerpt: This handbook focuses on a series of concepts, models and technologies which can be used to improve current practice in life cycle engineering in manufacturing companies around the world. Experts on the main issues relating to life cycle engineering have produced a superb collection of chapters. All the contributing authors are researchers and engineers in the fields of manufacturing paradigms, enterprise integration, product life cycle and technologies for life cycle engineering. Academics and researchers will find this book to be a valuable reference tool. The book illustrates those key factors that ensure successful enterprise and product life cycle integration. Due to the book being developed as a joint industry and university project, its approach should be helpful to both practising professionals and academics. An overview of life cycle engineering concepts, models, methodologies and practices that have been proved to significantly improve the integration and productivity of manufacturing companies have been clearly explained in this handbook. This book will be essential for engineers, designers, product support personnel dealing with enterprise engineering projects. It will also be of immense use to lecturers and senior lecturers working in the fields of enterprise integration, product development, concurrent engineering and integrated manufacturing systems.