Balancing Management and Technical Considerations for Environmentally Responsible Engineering

Abstract

This paper is about ways of visualizing and achieving harmonious balance between technical and managerial considerations with regard to environmental aspects of the design of complex systems. Environmental considerations strongly involve GeoSpatial Technology (GST) in the overall Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a total Product Realization Process (PRP). Hence, GST is a critical Emerging Technology essential for competitiveness and sustainable development in a global economy. Human dimensions of sustainable development are discussed as part of Total Productivity Management (TPM), and it is shown that certain aspects of the so-called “reengineering revolution” are not robust in the sense of Taguchi (and therefore are not sustainable). The concept of profit is discussed, and management considerations for maximizing corporate profit are examined through use of Kistler’s Productivity Gain Function (PGF) or Generalized Productivity Gain Function (GPGF) to account for numerous complex issues.