RIT CIMS - Sustainable Systems Research Center

Design for the Life Cycle

Developing improved design and engineering capabilites that take into account the entire life cycle of the product or system.
Evaluating economic and environmental effectiveness through Total Cost of Ownership Analysis; Material Engineering; Design for Assembly, Manufacturing, and Remanufacturing.

Value Analysis / Value Engineering

Using structured value planning and engineering to optimize product value.
Enhancing production system through Identifying Target Costs, Cost Reduction, and Value Mapping and Enhancement.

Technology Assessment and Benchmarking

Assisting companies in identifying technology gaps.
Providing useful information on industry trends through Technology Forecasting and Competitive Benchmarking.

Asset Recycle Management

Developing a comprehensive strategy for the management of an organization's physical assets, including end-products and materials throughout their life cycle.
Creating vehicles to improve reuse of materials, such as Value Reclamation Strategies, Cross-platform Opportunity Identification, and Economic Model Development.

Reverse Logistics

Creating or optimizing a product reclamation plan from collection through the recovery process.
Providing logistical solutions through Reverse Distribution Network Planning, End-of-life Disposition Models, Environmental Policy Impact.

Remanufacturing / Recycling Process Development

Implementing advanced remanufacturing/recycling processes through focused engineering analyses.
Using various scientific processes to improve an organization's remanufacturing/recycling capabilites, including Failure Modes Analysis, Signature Analysis, Remanufacturability Assessment, Process Development.

Design for Remanufacture

Researching remanufacturing processes to determine how products would best be designed for the most efficient and profitable recovery of resources.
Acting as a conduit for information between the design and remanufacturing phases of product life.

Sustainable Design for Remanufacturing

Developing and promoting the use of product and process design strategies that seek to minimize environmental impact across the entire life cycle of a product.
Creating tools and methods that assist companies in providing closed-loop and sustainable product systems, using Reverse Engineering, Design for Remanufacture, and Competitive Benchmarking.

SSRC's Facilities