Project Aim
The shorter Knowledge Transfer Partnership (sKTP) supported Harman International in implementing ecodesign best practice through their product development processes. The aim was to identify their true impacts and establish short, medium and longer term goals towards making Harman a truly ‘Sustainable Enterprise’. The project specifically addressed the challenges of complex global supply chains and quality of recycled materials for audio systems in the automotive industry.
EDC’s Involvement
EDC’s role was to act as facilitator of the project. EDC introduced ecodesign to Harman through education and guidance of a multidisciplinary team of senior managers, which was championed by the shorter Knowlege Transfer Partnership associate Eoin Bailey. This involved delivery of a series of presentations and team workshops formulated specifically for Harman International. These activities required active participation of the Harman team members and encouraged problem solving and idea generation for ecodesign solutions.
As well as facilitating the collaborative links between Harman and other associated organisation, EDC also directed Eoin Bailey on how to lead the project along with how to utilise the budget provision for additional research and event attendance.
Key Project Outcomes
- Established an understanding of ecodesign philosophies at a strategic and operational level
- Developed the organisation’s understanding of a systems thinking approach to problem solving for environmental impacts
- Facilitated Harman’s research into the true environmental, social and economic impact throughout their product’s life cycle
- Established additional areas of research around Rare Earth material scarcity and resource efficiency
