Life-Cycle Analysis

As development cycles in the automotive industry become shorter and shorter – not least because of the rapid development of electromobility – there is an increased need to evaluate the sustainability of systems and component designs. Within a life-cycle analysis (LCA), the fka analyzes new designs of its customers and evaluates their future viability:

1. At the beginning of an LCA, fka first conducts an individual environment analysis for the customer. Here, for example, the focus can be on lightweight construction in the vehicle, CO₂ legislation or regulations for sustainable product and process design.
2. In the course of defining the LCA objective and the relevant analysis dimensions, fka selects the procedure according to ISO 14040 to 14044, and, with the Life-Cycle Inventory, it determines the exact scope of investigation at the system and component level.
3. In the following, detailed process-level lifecycle analysis, the relevant manufacturing processes are analyzed, including company-specific information and data. A subsequent projection on the entire vehicle level allows us to consider different vehicle concepts, especially in the usage phase.

The result is an integrated energetic and ecological evaluation of the product and process. By means of a sensitivity analysis, fka can validate basic assumptions and variables. A final interpretation of the results provides the customer with concrete recommendations for a sustainable product and process design.