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*23 LCA Discussion Forum:*
*Quality Issues in LCA Software, Projects and Peer Review*
*September 23, 2004, ETH Zurich, Switzerland*
When performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or a company Ecobalance,
practicioners usually use or even rely on standard processes and
elements, such as a dedicated software, internal project management
and the provisions of the ISO 14040ff standards, and of course the
databases and impact assessment models.
Judging from any experience, quality assurance and management should be
a serious issue in the making of an LCA or Ecoblance study. However, few
discussions have focussed on quality issues until to-date. The 23rd
discussion forum will therefore table some selected quality management
aspects of LCA and Ecoblance making.
The first element will be the Critical Review as described in ISO 14040.
How does the critical review – be it a peer review or any other format –
influence the quality of LCA studies? Does it at all, or is its main use
to calm possible critics? The critical review was introduced because LCA
studies are inherently complex and results are always influenced by the
many assumptions which have to be taken. To reduce the risk of clearly
biased marketing-oriented LCAs, a critical review should assure the
quality and neutrality of procedures, calculations and interpretations.
Looking on at the experience, what is the actual role of the critical
review, how independent are the reviewers in practice, and did the
participation of external reviewers improve the quality of
studies? Is there anything to systematically improve in the critical
review process itself?
The second issue of the forum will be LCA Data Bases and Softwares and
LCA project management. These elements may be treated separately, but in
practice the interfaces between these three levels – database, software
and project – are possibly a major source of quality problems. We will
set the scene with comments from software producers and LCA and
Ecobalance practicioners on their practical experience with quality
management. Probably all of us have encountered quality problems in LCA
in some form. Based on the input, we will discuss how we minimize
mistakes and improve quality over time. Do we just base on experience,
or use formal procedures, too – and which ones? How much of an LCA
budget is explicitely reserved for control and review? Do we identify
typical mistakes (which we know of) and 'grey areas' where mistakes
could happen unnoticed? What should be improved – in the practical work,
in softwares, in data bases, in norms and standards.
The 23rd forum will again allow for 4 to 6 short presentations (5 min
each) on the issues of the day. We encourage you to use this
opportunity! You may announce your short presentation on the application
form attached .
Preliminary program and application form are attached.
We hope that this forum will interest you and we are looking forward to
welcoming you in Zürich.
Best regards.
Arthur Braunschweig and Ruedi Müller-Wenk
For more information on the forum see
http://www.texma.org/LCA-Forum/lca-forum.html or contact:
Arthur Braunschweig
E2 Management Consulting AG, Sustainability in Business,
Wehntalerstrasse 3, CH-8057 Zürich, Tel: +41-1-362 85 72, Fax: +41-1-361
86 01
Practicalities:
* Each forum is paid either annually (CHF 300 for the three fora in a
calender year) or separately (CHF 250 per forum). If you paid for all of
2004, please mention it on the inscription form.
* The forum takes place in Zürich, at the ETH (ca. 15 min. from the main
train station)
* Please send you inscription by September 20th 2004 the latest (if you
wish to be on the list of participants)
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