Browsing by Author "Bhamra, T."

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    Innovative ecodesign: An exploratory and descriptive study of Industrial Design practice
    (Cranfield University, 2000-10) Sherwin, C.; Bhamra, T.
    This research provides a study of practices of Innovative Ecodesign. The literature has extensively highlighted the need for more radical innovations and more innovative approaches to ecodesign, to fall in line with sustainability targets. However, both theory and practice (and the resultant tools and methods) describe and present a more incremental approach, as prevalent and most suitable. Using a single case study methodology within the Industrial Design department of a major Electrical and Electronics manufacturer, this exploratory and descriptive study contributes to the theoretical framework and practical understanding of more innovative practices of ecodesign. Earlier work suggested that integrating ecodesign at the early stages of product development was critical to its environmental effectiveness and ability to innovate. This study therefore aimed to investigate Innovative Ecodesign by considering two key factors: - Its integration into the early stages of the product design and development process - Industrial Design practices of ecodesign. The research concluded on Industrial Design practice as well as on the characteristics of Innovative Ecodesign. Industrial designers conduct ecodesign in there own unique way, not fully represented in existing theory or accounted for in existing methods. They require specific types of information usually general and visually presented as well as substantiated with case studies and examples. The potential to innovate is seen as the greatest motivator for designers to conduct ecodesign, while their design processes use environmental priorities and 'the product' in an ambiguous way. Designer s key role and most significant contribution is in creative and strategic thinking (new ideas), and the proposal of new concepts which have a strong emphasis on increasing the desirability of these 'eco-products' or new behaviours. This demand-side orientation in the design considerations is particularly unique to Industrial Design. The practices of Innovative Ecodesign undertaken here can be characterised as follows. It is an exploratory form of designing with an emphasis on openness and design freedom. Such design activities are perhaps best not immediately answerable to product development or aimed directly at the launch of new products. Among its aims are in embodying and expressing ecodesign principles and communicating these to others. Such design activities are strategic in their nature and requiring greater levels of participation across the production and consumption chain in future. They are systems based and holistic and prioritise environmental issues within the design brief. An important early aspect is the identification of either/or core business and consumer needs, which broadens the design considerations. The study relates these findings back to existing ecodesign theory, and conclude that both ecodesign (its theory, descriptions, definitions and practice) and design itself (its profile, uses and practice) need to change and mature.
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    Integrated solutions as a new perspective for eco-efficient services - a cross-industry exploration
    (2003-02) Van Der Zwan, F. M.; Bhamra, T.
    Over the past forty years many methods have been developed to reduce the environmental impacts of lifestyles of the Western world. A concept that has emerged in academic and policy making circles is that of ‘eco-efficient services’. This concept is still in the process of being developed and as yet has not successfully been taken up by industry. The research project upon which this thesis reports was initiated to address these concerns. In order to contribute to the research on eco-efficient services, gaining knowledge of a different but successful business concept was considered constructive. The main focus of this research was a novel concept that has parallels with eco-efficient services — namely ‘integrated solutions’. The central research question was how knowledge of this concept could support the development of eco-efficient services or solutions. The overall aim of this research was to provide those that wish to promote the development of eco-efficient services and solutions, with an understanding of a useful business design framework and an understanding of factors that might lead to increased eco-efficiency of these offerings. To this end, two stages of research were initiated and completed. The first stage was the Pilot Study in which a more detailed understanding of the concept of integrated solutions was sought. During this stage, data was elicited from a variety of sources so as to provide a robust foundation of knowledge upon which subsequent inquiry could be initiated. On the basis of the findings from a review of substantive literatures on integrated solutions and the findings of the Pilot Study, a framework and a model were developed. The integrated solutions framework describes the features of an integrated solution and the eco-efficient solutions model shows the elements that can influence the eco-efficiency of a solution. In the second stage, both the framework and the model were validated. These findings were then analysed and incorporated in the initial framework and model, which resulted in a refined eco-efficient solutions model. This research explored how knowledge of the concept of integrated solutions can support the development of eco-efficient services and solutions in a business-to-business context. Nine distinctive features of an integrated solution were identified and described in the refined integrated solutions framework. Furthermore, nine elements that might influence the eco-efficiency of a service or solution have been identified and described in the refined eco-efficient solutions model. Environmental legislation will play an important part in operationalising the model. A number of companies that took part in the research project were interested in taking these ideas forward. The intention of this work was not to refute current trajectories of research in the eco-efficient services domain, but rather to provide an additional body of knowledge that can allow those authors in the eco-efficient sendees domain, to realise the opportunity that the eco-efficient services concept provides to significantly improve resource efficiencies.
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    Transfer and application of the eco-service concept in UK manufacturing companies : an exploratory study
    (Cranfield University, 2002-09) Cook, Matthew Brian; Bhamra, T.
    Increasingly, services are utilised by manufacturing companies to satisfy demand. This trend is thought by a number of authors to provide opportunities to develop products that satisfy demand at increased resource efficiencies. This thesis considers a special category of services which have been conceptualised by academics and policy makers to realise this - Eco-services Eco-services have been the focus of a number of research projects lead by those practicing and associated with cleaner product design. This work has mainly focused on product policy and whilst a considerable body of knowledge has been accumulated, the array of factors that would lead to the successful transfer (from academia and to UK manufacturing companies) of this exogenous concept were unknown. This thesis sought to identify and understand these. Two inter linked phases of research were initiated and completed. The first was inductive in nature and was comprised of a Pilot Study. In this data was elicited from a variety of sources so as to provide a robust foundation of knowledge upon which subsequent enquiry could be initiated. It concluded with the construction of an initial conceptual framework which described the attributes of receptivity that were found in UK manufacturing firms to be specific to the Eco-service concept. Also, a number of research propositions were generated so as to guide research in phase two. The second deductive phase of research was undertaken so as to test the initial conceptual framework. A Main Study was carried out in order to elicit primary qualitative data from two UK manufacturing companies. This work was guided by the research propositions and a more in-depth understanding of the attributes of receptivity was gained. This body of knowledge was utilised to refine the initial conceptual framework. This research identified and understood the range of factors that give rise to the successful inward transfer of the Eco-service concept in U manufacturing companies. Eight attributes of receptivity were identified and described in the final conceptual framework. The intention of this work was not to refute current trajectories of research within the Eco-service domain, but rather to provide an additional body of knowledge that can be thought to enable those authors in the Eco-service domain to realise the opportunity that the emergent trajectory of services provides to significantly improve resource efficiencies.