PDCA-cycle in implementing design for environment in an R&D unit of Nokia Telecommunications

Abstract

This paper presents the third and the last part of the case study of implementing design for environment in an R&D unit of Nokia Telecommunications. The goal has been to implement design for environment into the product process. This has been done by integrating environmental issues into the process through influencing points found from it. The integration has mainly been achieved with the help of check lists that we call "working assistants". Tailored DFE training has been arranged for the designers to help them understand the concept and to start using the "working assistants". Design for environment, as an approach, has been communicated to the employees through different channels. The integrated design for environment system has been measured with two groups of metrics: product related metrics and design for environment system related metrics. Targets of the metrics have been set by the R&D management team, and improvement measures are now in progress. This paper will describe how the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) cycle has been successfully used as a framework for this implementation process.