Abstract
In modern design, life cycle concerns such as recycling and service are receiving increased attention. One of our goals, as researchers, is to develop the tools, methods, and techniques to facilitate design for the life cycle. In this paper, we develop a plan for helping the designer learn more about the life cycle processes that a product may undergo through the integration of process simulation into the product design environment. The architecture of our design system and our proposed extensions through the integration of process simulation are explained. In addition, we use the example of a disassembly process to gain an understanding of the information requirements for two types of process simulations. Secondly, using the knowledge acquired from the motivating example, we develop a shared information structure that will facilitate the integration of process simulation within the product design environment. Finally, we present the case-study of a single-use camera to outline the implementation of the shared information model and to highlight the results and benefits of doing so.
