Fuzzy Logic Approach for Assessing Sustainability: Methodology Development for Hollow Fiber Membrane Module S. Mahmood 1 , A. R. Hemdi 2 , M. Z. M. Saman 1, a* , M. Y. Noordin 1 1 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia a zameri@fkm.utm.my Keywords: Sustainability assessment; Fuzzy logic approach; Hollow fiber membrane module. Abstract. Sustainability has become new evolution of quality and efficiency indicator for product life cycle. It is generally acknowledge that sustainability is a result from balancing the environmental, economical and social aspect. However, each aspects may expand to different type of parameters involved that cross the system boundary; qualitative and quantitative parameters. Fuzzy logic approach will be applied to deal with the data uncertainty for obtaining the sustainability assessment of hollow fiber membrane module. Fuzzy logic operation will formulate the mapping from inputs to an output. Thus, it will able for intermediate assessment between sustainable and non-sustainable hollow fiber membrane module. Hence, this paper introduces the comprehensive method for assessing sustainability as guide for hollow fiber membrane designer and manufacturer for future sustainability improvement. Introduction Sustainability is a measurement the degree of consistency of present and future needs in an environment, economy and social, which is a dynamic process [1]. Since the human population and social rates keep growing, the sustainability of humankind is now threatened. Consequently, it creates high demand on mass production for products that will consume a lot of raw materials and energy. This situation can cause the natural resources become limited. In addition, a lot of waste and emission will be generated during each stage of the product life cycle. Simultaneously, wastewater generated for industries that flowing to natural water stream causing a harmful effect to human, plants and animals. Lately, membranes have gained wide acceptance against competing technology in many areas because of flexibility and performance reliability of membrane system, environmental awareness, competitive cost and increasing demand. Membrane technology is safe with the relatively low environmental impact because they contain low toxic material and are compact in size [2]. In addition, membrane system especially polymer membrane are good in process ability, inexpensive production and low operating cost in modular design. Compared to the traditional wastewater treatment, membrane treatment processes had smaller footprint, decrease sludge production, consistent effluent quality and lower sensitivity to contaminant peaks [3]. There are several types of membranes module geometry, however this research focus on hollow fiber membrane module. The sustainability of membrane module as a product needs to be scrutinized for maintaining it is sustainability. In order to achieve sustainable membrane process and its operation, it is necessary to develop a framework to monitor the sustainability as well as detecting weak areas that need further improvement. The methodology developed will consider to balance each sustainability aspects; environmental, economical and social. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied as a technique to determine parameters involved as well as evaluate the environmental aspects of membrane module [4]. System boundary from cradle to grave was selected. Hence, a new framework for assessing sustainability for membrane system has to be developed in order to assist designer and decision makers to select the varies sustainable alternative. In this paper, fuzzy-based sustainability framework for membrane module was proposed for assessing membrane module sustainability. The sustainability framework development will be explained detail in next section which is flexible to mapping inputs to an output. Advanced Materials Research Vol. 845 (2014) pp 579-583 © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.845.579 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 161.139.220.91-22/11/13,03:49:53)