Publicerad: 2008-12-09
ISBN:
ISSN: 1650-3686 (tryckt), 1650-3740 (online)
Purpose: This paper proposes application of quality engineering in the early phase of environmentally conscious design (Ecodesign).
Methodology/approach: Utilizing Kano Model and willingness to pay; it presents a framework for classification of environmental characteristics of products/services (i.e. offers) in two dimensions. The framework is connected to design management; i.e. design itself and external communication; where strategies for companies are given. The integration of the classification and the strategies is applied to three environmental characteristics against Japanese markets.
Findings: The classification framework was proved to be effective as it generates much richer implication than other existing methods. In addition; it works well especially for environmental characteristics. Generation of strategies was also found to work effectively. They suggested some potential of using quality-engineering oriented methods/tools to deal with customer perception in the early phase of Ecodesign.
Research limitation/implication: The results imply the needs for research on further utilizing quality-engineering approach and methods in the early stage of Ecodesign. This would be effective as how customers perceive offers has been neglected in the research and practice of Ecodesign and the focus of Ecodesign has been rather in its technical aspects. This research; in a broader sense; exists in integration of marketing and design disciplines.
Originality/value: This paper has brought light into the arena where customer aspects in Ecodesign are addressed and has proved some potential for qualityengineering approach and method to tackle the aspects.
Kano model; design management; offer development; communication to customer; willingness to pay; sustainability
IPCC; Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis; (2001); Cambridge University Press; USA; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
OECD; OECD Environmental Outlook; (2001); OECD; Paris; France.
Fiksel; J.; ed.: Design for Environment. 1996; Mc Graw Hill: New York.
Unep; ECODESIGN: a promising approach to sustainable production and consumption; (1997); United Nations Publication.
Karlsson; R. and Luttropp; C. eds; Special issue "EcoDesign: what’s happening?" Journal of Cleaner Production; Vol. 14 (2006); pp. 1291-1442.
Rahimifard; S. and Clegg; A.J. eds; Special issue "Sustainable Design and Manufacture"; Journal of Production Research; Vol. 45; No. 18-19 (2007); pp. 4013-4652.
Stevels; A.; Traditional EcoDesign in Proactive Electronic Companies will be soon Dead! Long live Ecovalue!; 10th International Conference Towards Sustainable Product Design; (2005).
Anonymous: Environmental consciousness; appealing to consumers or not; in Nikkei Trendy. 2007. p. 72-74; in Japanese.
Sakao; T. and Fargnoli; M.; Mass Customization Issues for Environmentally Conscious Design; International Design Conference; (2006); Dubrovnik; pp. 1405 - 1412.
Sakao; T.; EcoDesign Strategies Using Classification of Environmental Characteristics; International Design Conference; (2008); Dubrovnik; pp. 1351 - 1358.
Kano; N.; Seraku; N.; Takahashi; F.; and Tsuji; S. (1996): Attractive quality and must-be quality; in The best on quality; Hromi; J.D.; Editor. 1996; ASQ Quality Press: Milwaukee; WI. p. 165-186.
Miyagawa; M.; Journal of the Japan Society of Quality Control; Vol. 20; No. 3 (1990); pp. 16-22; in Japanese.
Finster; M.; Eagan; P.; and Hussey; D.; Linking Industrial Ecology with Business Strategy -Creating Value for Green Product Design-; Journal of Industrial Ecology; Vol. 5; No. 3 (2001); pp. 107-125.
Sakata; M. and Suzuki; K.; Extraction of Potential Customer Needs from Questionnaire Data; Journal of the Japan Society of Quality Control; Vol. 37; No. 2 (2007); pp. 68-79; in Japanese.
Bovea; M.D. and Wang; B.; Redesign methodology for developing environmentally conscious products; International Journal of Production Research; Vol. 45; No. 18 & 19 (2007); pp. 4057 - 4072.
Green; E. and Srinivasan; V.; Conjoint Analysis in Consumer Research: Issues and Outlook; Journal of Consumer Research; Vol. 5 (1978); pp. 103-123.
Meyer; A.; What’s in it for the Customers? Successfully Marketing Green Clothes; Business Strategy and the Environment; Vol. 10 (2001); pp. 317-330.
Stevels; A.; Green Marketing of Consumer Electronics; Joint International Congress and Exhibition Electronics Goes Green 2000+; (2000); Berlin; pp. 539-544.
Cristofari; M.; Deshmukh; A.; and Wang; B.; Green Quality Function Deployment; International Journal of Environmentally Conscious Design & Manufacturing; Vol. 5; No. 2 (1996); pp. 13-18.
Zhang; Y.; Wang; H.; and Zhang; C.; Green QFD-II: a life cycle approach for environmentally conscious manufacturing by integrating LCA and LCC into QFD matrices; International Journal of Production Research; Vol. 37; No. 5 (1999); pp. 1075-1091.
Masui; K.; Sakao; T.; Kobayashi; M.; and Inaba; A.; Applying Quality Function Deployment to Environmentally Conscious Design; International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management; Vol. 20; No. 1 (2003); pp. 90-106.
Sakao; T.; A QFD-Centred Design Methodology for Environmentally Conscious Product Design; International Journal of Production Research; Vol. 45; No. 18-19 (2007); pp. 4143-4162.
Wong; V.; Turner; W.; and Stoneman; P.; Marketing Strategies and Market Prospects for Environmentally- Friendly Consumer Products; British Journal of Management; Vol. 7 (1996); pp. 263-281.
