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MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development

global challenges, engineering solutions
 

Darren West

Innovation for sustainable development in the UK electronics sector

Darren West

Innovation for sustainable development in the UK electronics sector

Innovation plays a significant role in engineering activity, especially in fast moving, dynamic sectors such as electronics.  With increasing pressures to adopt sustainable engineering practices such innovation needs to consider value propositions outside of the purely financial.  Through a detailed study of SHARP Laboratories of Europe Ltd. (SLE), who are attempting to increase activities related to environmentally focused projects, and a consideration of current sector ‘best practice’ this study attempts to identify actions, characteristics and motivations that can be used to help stimulate further adoption of sustainable development principles in the UK electronics sector.  The findings indicate the combined importance of company culture, staff engagement and appropriate regulatory control as contributory factors, leading to a series of recommendations to SLE to help progress towards their goal.  
Subject: 
2004-05

Course Overview

Context

The need to engage in better problem definition through careful dialogue with all stakeholder groups and a proper recognition of context.

Perspectives

An ability to work with specialists from other disciplines and professional groups acknowledging that technical innovation and business skills also must be understood, nurtured and combined as precursors to the successful implementation of sustainable solutions.

Change

An understanding of mechanisms for managing change in organisations so future engineers are equipped to play a leadership role.

Tools

An awareness of a range of assessment frameworks, sustainability metrics and methodologies such as Life Cycle Analysis, Systems Dynamics, Multi-Criteria Decision making and Impact Assessment.

 

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