Abstract
This research has developed and tested a framework for environmental risk management. The framework provides a means for considering the environmental impacts of products as part of standard design decisions within Rolls-Royce by considering their relationship with other design requirements. This research began during the development of an environmental assessment methodology within Rolls-Royce, which was to form the basis of a Design for Environment (DfE) capability. It had been successfully shown how the methodology could produce product life cycle environmental information in response to design inputs. However, it was not clear how this information should be used within design decisions. This EngD project was started to investigate how environmental impacts could be considered as part of standard design decisions within Rolls-Royce and to develop a bespoke decision support framework that could fulfil this requirement. Aiming to produce outcomes that could lead to change within Rolls-Royce, an action research approach was applied. Initial research concluded that an approach to DfE consistent with existing ways of working needed to be developed and a risk based approach was selected as risk management is an important part of design at Rolls-Royce. The framework for environmental risk management was developed to assess business risks posed by the environmental impacts of products alongside other risks as part of standard design and risk management processes. To test the framework, focus groups were conducted to identify priority environmental business hazards that needed to be considered as risks in design. Case study scenarios based on these hazards were used to show how the risks posed to design objectives could be assessed, using actual design and business information within Rolls-Royce. Findings from testing the framework for environmental risk management culminated in recommendations on how to implement it into the business. A further contribution to knowledge was made in the form of a framework for conducting material criticality assessments, which was developed through testing the framework for environmental risk management.