A Knowledge-enriched Framework for Life Cycle Assessment in Manufacturing

Even though carbon neutralization is promised by several countries, many developed tools for life cycle assessment (LCA) or sustainability performance is still not widely and easily used in industrial practices. A big gap exists between having the tools and using the tools, which is currently facilitated by human expertise. LCA practitioners should embrace and take advantage the rapid development of knowledge graph (KG) technology. In this paper, the important position and key methodologies of KG are presented in the context of LCA, latest advances are reviewed and presented. A framework of knowledge-enriched LCA is proposed which was illustrated with a LCA-oriented process-flow knowledge graph (PFKG) for inventory analysis. The knowledge acquisition and construction of PFKG was demonstrated with aluminum die casting, and on top of which a recommendation application of PFKG was discussed in a case of five-star feet of office chair. PFKG can facilitate non-experts in identifying the complex structured relationship between process and flow, and recommend possible life cycle inventory data. It is envisioned that merging with KG will boost engineering sustainability in a more practical manner.