A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT IN VIEW OF TECHNICAL PARTS AND COMPONENTS OF A MEANS OF AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORT

This study includes research whose main goal was to answer the question of the mandatory features of a sustainable product and the level of their fulfilment in view of the manufacturing process of parts and technical subassemblies of a means of agricultural transport. With reference to the objective formulated in this way, preliminary criteria were established that were then subjected to a comprehensive analysis and breakdown (determining the significance from the research perspective). In the next stage, within the theoretical and design layer – following literature review and expert research – a research tool in the form of an evaluation sheet was created. At the empirical level, a thorough evaluation of the implementation of deliberately selected propositions serving as the global foundation of the concept of the sustainable product manufacturing process was performed (the holistic approach). The investigation was conducted among selected manufacturers of parts and technical subassemblies of means of agricultural transport (agricultural machinery sector). At the onset of the research work, the conceptual model of the thesis was constructed, according to which the surveyed enterprises are focused on individuals (working environment), natural environment and economics (including minimizing waste throughout the product life cycle), which is a prerequisite as far as a sustainable product is concerned.