Life cycle optimisation tool development for process systems and centralised supply chain design

Abstract

Historically, optimisation processes for supply chains have primarily focused on maximising economic objectives. However, with the challenges posed by climate change, there has been a shift towards integrating environmental considerations into optimisation processes alongside economic criteria, which can be facilitated by life cycle assessment. This approach enables supply chain managers to move beyond solely analysing emissions from individual plants, instead considering all life cycle stages. Yet, despite the advancements made in incorporating environmental considerations, the challenge lies in identifying the most effective improvement strategies and selecting optimal alternatives within decision environments characterised by multiple and often conflicting objectives. Real-life scenarios frequently demand simultaneous economic and environmental criteria considerations to ensure products' sustainability over their entire life cycle. Striking a delicate balance between these divergent objectives requires careful evaluation, innovative solutions, and robust decision-making processes. One of the solutions is combining multi-objective optimisation with life cycle assessment because of its ability to balance environmental and economic performance. By leveraging this approach, decision-makers can navigate the trade-offs between these two crucial aspects, empowering them to select the most appropriate solution that aligns with their specific requirements, constraints, and objectives. A decision-aid toolkit has been developed in this paper and validated using a real-life case study focused on electricity generation in the UK. This practical application showcases the methodology's effectiveness and provides tangible evidence of its potential to drive improvements in the real world.