Use of Information Technology in Cleaner Production - Research Paper Example

Use of Information Technology in Cleaner Production Student’s Name University Tutor Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 3 1.1 Selection of Company 3 1.2 Background Information 4 2.0 Characterization of the Company 5 2.1 Mission/ Vision 5 2.2 Objectives 5 2.3 Corporate Structure 6 2.4 Strategic Analysis 7 2.5 Porter’s Five Five Analysis 8 3.0 Problem Statement 10 3.1 Short Term Measures 14 3.2 Long Term Strategies 15 3.4 Conclusion 16 4.0 List of References 17 1.0 Introduction With the level of industrialization and technology growing, pressure on ecological sustainability continues to grow. Manufacturing plants are among the main contributors to environmental degradation (Schoenherr, & Talluri, 2013) and thus they need to take measures towards improving their performance towards nature conservation. The fight towards industries maintaining ecological sustainability is hindered by the vast growth in the world’s population. This growth has resulted in a surge of inconsiderate industries that concentrate on production quantity, without any regard for the environment. As much as responsible firms exists, the United Nations has seen it important to set required goals so that to curb irresponsible firms from polluting the environment. The main reason that most of these sub-standard companies adopt to ecologically dangerous production methods is so that they can maximize their profits (Du 2015). However, strong firms have learnt that they can employ information technology to their operation procedures and in the process reduce environmental pollution as well as increase their profits by cutting wastage. 1.1 Selection of Company Information technology is the application of electronic computer hardware and software integrated with human practices with the aim of supporting decision making, enhancing effective management, supporting the development of products and services and enhancing competitiveness (Davenport, 2013). On the other hand environmental management is the chain of processes involved in ensuring that the environment is sustained for the future generations and remains friendly for the current generation (Welford, 2013). Axalta Coating Company has applied various Information Technology measures to effect environmental conversation through clean production. Axalta coating system ltd is a global coating company that has been an autonomous corporation for only over a year. Over this initial year, the esteemed workers have been on a journey of alter and thrilling chance. The company’s business activities and planning have been based on transition from being a splitting up of a much superior corporation to being one of the global company with the unique vision, strategy as well as approach to global concerns has been the vital focus of this company. 1.2 Background Information The company embarks on this path as a global corporation, with roots in numerous corners of the globe. The company leadership squad reveals the global diversity of the employees and the customers. The Axalta Company identifies and develops talent all over where it operates and leverages the acquaintance of local markets and cultures across six continents. To better comprehend and meet the customers’ requirements, component of the viewpoint is that it considers wherever it operates to be its home. As a result, this means the company has to take serious the full range of the interactions with the local environment, economic, community base as well as governing agencies in the manner in which the company carries its business activities. In all the locations in both locally and in the entire world around Axalta interacts with the leaders, local economic partners as well as customers the company has a key responsibility of ensuring community prosperity, growth and health. Of importance to this paper, some regions around the globe feel the impacts of precedent economic action with ecological impacts that are harming the wellbeing of individuals in surrounding societies. Axalta’s stakeholders are paying attention in the environmental footprint, the approach to sustainability, plus how the existence of the business will support the society’s sustainable advancement. 2.0 Characterization of the Company 2.1 Mission/ Vision To be apparent, at Axalta it is supposed that sustainability should be about profitability and productivity as much as it is about indirect impacts on the society and environment. It is discovered that doing the correct thing in the right manner aids Axalta to boost productivity, increase worker safety, lower costs in addition to helping the customers reduce their consumption of resources and effects on the surroundings. In this manner, more and more sustainable products and processes aid drive the company’s business development and make it a superior partner for the relative customers. 2.2 Objectives Coatings take part in a fundamental responsibility in the worth creation process across numerous industries. The company has increased its use of bio-sourced raw materials and chemical and energy consumption measures in the practice of making the company’s products. The products then go on to form beauty and offer protection for a huge amount of other materials, lengthening their valuable lives, saving the requirement to replace or repaint them and turning them to look more beautiful all at the similar time. The business as a whole is operating to improve the impact of the products and services across their entire lifecycle. Axalta is continuously finding for new techniques to improve the sustainability practices by lowering the consumption of energy use, raw materials, as well as potentially harmful emissions land, air or water. The company’s powder coatings and waterborne coatings for instance, play a responsibility in enhancing the lifecycle effects from the company. These sorts of products drastically lower the utilization of potentially destructive chemicals and noticeably lessen waste and potentially detrimental emissions e.g. the volatile organic compounds, VOCs. These products are being progressively utilized in a diversity of applications all over the planet. For some of the customers with an install foundation of production facilities and equipment, the changeover to these newer products might be on six longer time prospect. Axalta remains a believed and trusted business partner for the customers, no matter where they are on the range of new technology implementation. 2.3 Corporate Structure Axalta coating company ltd has a singular focus on providing global coating solutions across the world. They hold value to the commitment they make to themselves and to those they engage. Though they handle business globally, they insist on maintaining the following values everywhere they do business. One value is putting customers first, they have an obligation to provide towards the need of customers and go an extra mile to increase their value to clients by suggesting additional assistance. The company also holds a value in taking ownership for their actions, they are proud of what they produce but also lend a listening years to critics for improvement. Another value that drives Axalta Coating Company is the urge to improve their performance daily. The company does this in an attempt to keep pace with the ever-changing market so that they can remain competitive. The company also innovates with purpose whereby the purpose is the usability of products in the market. The final value that the company holds is to succeed as a united global team, they hold their strength in the large group of workers they have internationally and thus believe in working together as a family. 2.4 Strategic Analysis The company’s board of directors composes of leaders with a lot of experience in the global petro-chemical, gas and oil industry. Axalta Coating Company Limited is also committed to maintaining the process of environmental conservation. They take part in carrying out research on cleaner methods of production and also they award car manufacturers for producing sustainable vehicle bodies. The company’s corporate structure is a concrete web that joins all stakeholders to ensure compatibility, trust and effectiveness. The company has industries globally and thus it has regional offices to manage the various industries in different countries. In addition, Axalta Coating Company is a limited liability meaning that shareholders share the profits of the company but they are not liable for losses in the company. 2.5 Porter’s Five Five Analysis Fig 1: How Axalta Coatings Faces the Porter’s Five Forces The porter’s five forces analysis is a framework that analyzes the level of competition an industry faces and the strategy it applies to face competition (E. Dobbs 2014). The number one force is threat from new entrants (Magretta, 2013). Axalta Coating Company covers this threat by ensuring they produce quality products in the market at effective costs so as to draw the attention and commitment of customers. They ensure that their products are top notch and they continue to research on new technology so that they are on the lead in case of new inventions. The second threat is the threat posed by substitutes, the company works against such competition by ensuring it is actively involved in research to come up with new technology for use in the future. This strategy ensures that even if a substitute comes in the field of coating, Axalta Company will be part of the companies providing the substitute. Additionally, provision of top tier services ensures substitute products are kept at bay. Another force in the Porters five analysis is the Bargaining Power of Suppliers, also known as the market of inputs. When there are a few substitutes in terms of suppliers of materials and labor, a company usually suffers unnecessary control from the suppliers. Suppliers may refuse to work with a firm or impose excessive charges on unique products. Axalta Coating Company handles this challenge by having an experienced board of directors who can maneuver through such challenges. Another effort put towards this challenge is the application of technology in production. Technology works to ensure that a company reduces the number of human task force required to perform a certain duty, this thus reduces the bargaining power of employees. In addition, technology improves the process of production and reduces wastage. This works by lowering the amount of raw materials required in production and in this case controlling the bargaining power of suppliers. The fourth force is the Customer’s Bargaining Power, the buyer’s power increases when the buyer has many alternatives to a product. The company solves this challenge by generating products that are competitive in terms of cost and quality for their customers. They also provide quality products so that they have an edge over their competitors. The company has also devised the use of information technology in clean production. This technology helps them in ensuring their operation process is relatively less costly and thus customers prefer their products. The fifth force is competitive rivalry; it measures the intensity of competition in the market. Competition gets higher when there are a few companies offering the same service. To overcome this competition Axalta Company uses high-level advertising and issuance of quality services to grab loyal customers. 3.0 Problem Statement Axalta Coating Company specializes in the painting of motor vehicles. It does this in largescale numbers such that the Australian government has often awarded it tenders to paint the their Military Vehicles. The firm produces its paints mainly from polymers and pigments. Most polymers are non-biodegradable and thus pose a big threat towards environmental conservation. To this effect, Axalta Coating Company has employed distinct long term and short term measures to reduce environmental pollution and maybe terminate it in the end. The short term and long-term measures are discussed in the part below. During production of coating materials and their application on vehicles, Axalta coating company used various traditional methods that led to environmental pollution and wastage of materials. One of these measures was the use of traditional paint mixing method since paints were usually applied by hand. The mixing of paints manually exposed workers to inhaling paints as well as the company losing paint from spillages. Also the manual application of paint using brushes resulted to paint wastage from dripping and also the end quality of a physical brush was not appealing. Often at many times, the products that were required to be similar in appearance failed to portray the same color or patterns. This was due to errors in either mixing of paints and also errors in the technical application of paint. It was difficult for manual laborers to get a perfect mix of colors or to apply the same pattern consistently and repeatedly maybe in over a thousand objects. Additionally, objects that were manually painted used to fade faster and thus called for frequent retouch. The fading was as a result of improper methods used in drying the paints which would thus make the paint lack a durable radiance. The consequence of frequent maintenance was wastage of resources for both the company and the clients. The company also used to apply manual movement of objects requiring coating and it was quite a labor demanding activity. Another traditional method that Axalta Company used was the spraying of paints with guns that used air. The result of this was wastage of paints and the release of harmful fumes into the environment. The company also spent huge amounts of finances to hire highly technical laborers. The manual application of paints required skilled labor men who were often difficult to find and who charged exorbitant amounts. Axalta Coating Company is gradually adopting technology to solve their problems. To face the above named porter’s forces, Axalta Coating Company has come up with strategies to overcome its competitors. One strategy that the company has adopted is the use of computer technology. This strategy has helped the company to reduce wastage of production materials, save time used in production as well as reduce the number of workers required to carry out tasks in the firm. A summation of these factors have led to cutting production costs as well as reducing the company’s reliance on suppliers thus protecting itself from one of the porter’s forces. In addition it has enabled the company improve their quality of services and thus improving their relationship with clients. Information Technology is used in the process of clean production in several ways. Information Technology applies to reduce energy consumption and to reduce wastage in industries (Câmara, Andrade, Júnior, and Rocha, 2013). In addition, Information Technology is utilized to create products that are more environmental friendly. Companies also use Information Technology to reduce the amount of harmful emissions released to the environment. On another level, information technology enhances communication in a company in the process improving operations carried out in the company (Drnevich and Croson, 2013). The main features of cleaner production include changes in technology, changes in input materials, operating processes, product design, waste reduction, changes in maintenance, and changes in packaging (Morelli, 2013). Cleaner production works hand in hand with other environmental friendly campaigns such as eco-efficiency, zero emissions, life-cycle assessment, and green production. These measures aim at protecting the environment at all stages of production. Technology ensures swift production with minimum pollution to the environment. In addition, it works to make sure minimal wastage and the recycling or re-use of unavoidable waste. Technology also allows for production of clean products as it provides a platform to test products before releasing them to the market (Morelli, 2013). Environmental management is a process that aims to ensure that industries protect and sustain the ecosystem services and biodiversity for use by coming generations (Buckley, 2012). It also targets towards the provision of a sustainable environment for the current generation. Steps toward environmental management include carrying out nondestructive methods when mining, reduction of greenhouse gases emitted during production, ensuring safe production procedures, production of ecofriendly goods and use of packaging that is not harmful to the environment. Companies are taking measures towards the use of information technology so as to effect clean production. One of these measures is the use of information technology in reducing energy consumption during the production process. Technology achieves this by application of equipment that enhances efficiency with little energy consumption. One of these actions is the use of light emitting diodes to replace conventional bulbs. LED’s consume relatively less power while at the same time producing sufficient lighting solutions. Smart monitoring, which is the use of digital meters, thermostats, and sensors help companies save energy. This technology also known as the internet of things enables firms detect points of energy loss and thus affect necessary changes (Da Xu and Li, 2014). There is also equipment such as modern computer processors that provide higher efficiency while using less energy. Another measure affected by technology is eco sustainability, it ensures quality production while reducing the quantity of materials used. To achieve this, technology creates equipment that enhances efficiency thus reducing wastage. Quality control, reuse of waste materials, and shipment of products to point of use are measures that technology apply to affect eco sustainability. Technology also applies to reduce emission of greenhouse gases to the environment (Mujumdar, 2014). Technology also ensures production of quality products that are durable. The durability reduces the pollution that happens when substandard products are dumped as garbage thus polluting the environment. It also ensures production of equipment that does not require frequent servicing thus lowering the amount of raw materials used in servicing the products. Computer Systems also applly in creation of packages that ensure preservation of contents they hold. An example is the refrigerators fixed in some vehicles or the milk sachets that are made to ensure longevity of the product they hold (Mujumdar, 2014). The following part shows measures that Axalta Coating Company has adopted to solve their challeges. 3.1 Short Term Measures Traditional methods used in Axalta were famous for consuming up to 1 million liters of paint per year. The methods used led to traditional polishing errors whereby end products lacked similarity in appearance. Furthermore, errors such as patches missed and runs resulted in wastage of paints solvents and thinners. Another problem with traditional methods is that operators were exposed to paint fumes, which was dangerous for their health. Additionally, there were problems in waste management whereby a lot of paint was lost in the mixing process and during spraying as it paint fumes escaped to the environment. Apart from the environmental challenges, old production methods were labor intensive and thus were relatively expensive. The use of information technology in coating has increased productivity and reduced environmental pollution in the following ways. Conveyer belts are used for the movement of motor vehicle parts that need painting. Apart from that, roller staining is used instead of the old method of sanding to smoothen parts. This reduces labor while at the same time enhancing efficiency. Infra-Red is used for the process of drying rather than older methods which depended on natural heat. This process has reduced the time needed for the paint to dry while at the same time reducing the amount of paint fumes emitted to the atmosphere. The company also uses UV roller coating and Curtain roller coating in place of the older methods where the applied spraying. This has reduced the exposure of workers to paint while at the same time reducing paint wastage. The use of the UV roller substitutes the need for solvents and thinners since it applies the lacquer directly on the surface. Additionally, the drying time takes 5-10 seconds. Also, since the UV sprayer does not use air, it drops paint directly on the surface and thus less paint is used per surface area. The environmental impact of the use of the above-mentioned technologies is vast. Air quality is improved by reduction of fumes and solid particles released to the atmosphere. Another advantage of applying technology in production is the improvement of storage, usage and handling of chemicals. It leads to minimization of lacquers and volumes of stain used in painting not forgetting water conservation. It also reduces the amount of paint required per surface area and thus reduces the amount of petroleum used to produce the polymers. The use of technology has also increased the appeal of products thus directly expanding Axalta’s market against that of its competitors. 3.2 Long Term Strategies Axalta Coating Company is also making further steps to ensure even cleaner environment in the future. To achieve this, the research team at the company is working towards a technology whereby cars can show color without the use of paint. This step will eliminate the need for paint and thus save the environment from excessive exploitation of petroleum. In addition, this technology will save the environment from the pollution that occurs when paint fumes are released into the atmosphere. 3.4 Conclusion As explained above, the use of information technology in production goes a long way in enhancing cleaner production. It is evident from the examples given above that information technology reduces the amount of resources used in production, both human and material. It is thus logical to conclude that apart from saving the ecosystem, computer systems technology protects firms from the porter’s five forces and even maximize their profits. Intelligent firms should thus adopt information technology to enhance their production. 4.0 List of References Axalta Coating Systems Australia. (n.d.) Retrieved May 13, 2016, from http://www.axaltacs.com/au/en_AU.html Buckley, R., 2012. Perspectives in environmental management. Springer Science & Business Media. Câmara, G., Andrade, C., Júnior, A.S. and Rocha, P., 2013. Storage of carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs: is it a cleaner technology?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 47, pp.52-60. Da Xu, L., He, W. and Li, S., 2014. Internet of things in industries: a survey. Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on, 10(4), pp.2233-2243. Davenport, T.H., 2013. Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business Press. Drnevich, P.L. and Croson, D.C., 2013. Information Technology and Business-Level Strategy: Toward an Integrated Theoretical Perspective. Mis Quarterly, 37(2), pp.483-509. Du, X., 2015. Is corporate philanthropy used as environmental misconduct dressing? Evidence from Chinese family-owned firms. Journal of Business Ethics, 129(2), pp.341-361. E. Dobbs, M., 2014. Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates. Competitiveness Review, 24(1), pp.32-45. Magretta, J., 2013. Understanding Michael Porter: The essential guide to competition and strategy. Harvard Business Press. Morelli, J., 2013. Environmental sustainability: A definition for environmental professionals. Journal of Environmental Sustainability, 1(1), p.2. Mujumdar, A.S. ed., 2014. Handbook of industrial drying. CRC Press. Schoenherr, T. and Talluri, S., 2013. Environmental sustainability initiatives: A comparative analysis of plant efficiencies in Europe and the US. Engineering Management, IEEE Transactions on, 60(2), pp.353-365. Welford, R., 2013. Corporate environmental management 3: Towards sustainable development. Routledge. Read More

As a result, this means the company has to take serious the full range of the interactions with the local environment, economic, community base as well as governing agencies in the manner in which the company carries its business activities. In all the locations in both locally and in the entire world around Axalta interacts with the leaders, local economic partners as well as customers the company has a key responsibility of ensuring community prosperity, growth and health. Of importance to this paper, some regions around the globe feel the impacts of precedent economic action with ecological impacts that are harming the wellbeing of individuals in surrounding societies.

Axalta’s stakeholders are paying attention in the environmental footprint, the approach to sustainability, plus how the existence of the business will support the society’s sustainable advancement. 2.0 Characterization of the Company 2.1 Mission/ Vision To be apparent, at Axalta it is supposed that sustainability should be about profitability and productivity as much as it is about indirect impacts on the society and environment. It is discovered that doing the correct thing in the right manner aids Axalta to boost productivity, increase worker safety, lower costs in addition to helping the customers reduce their consumption of resources and effects on the surroundings.

In this manner, more and more sustainable products and processes aid drive the company’s business development and make it a superior partner for the relative customers. 2.2 Objectives Coatings take part in a fundamental responsibility in the worth creation process across numerous industries. The company has increased its use of bio-sourced raw materials and chemical and energy consumption measures in the practice of making the company’s products. The products then go on to form beauty and offer protection for a huge amount of other materials, lengthening their valuable lives, saving the requirement to replace or repaint them and turning them to look more beautiful all at the similar time.

The business as a whole is operating to improve the impact of the products and services across their entire lifecycle. Axalta is continuously finding for new techniques to improve the sustainability practices by lowering the consumption of energy use, raw materials, as well as potentially harmful emissions land, air or water. The company’s powder coatings and waterborne coatings for instance, play a responsibility in enhancing the lifecycle effects from the company. These sorts of products drastically lower the utilization of potentially destructive chemicals and noticeably lessen waste and potentially detrimental emissions e.g. the volatile organic compounds, VOCs.

These products are being progressively utilized in a diversity of applications all over the planet. For some of the customers with an install foundation of production facilities and equipment, the changeover to these newer products might be on six longer time prospect. Axalta remains a believed and trusted business partner for the customers, no matter where they are on the range of new technology implementation. 2.3 Corporate Structure Axalta coating company ltd has a singular focus on providing global coating solutions across the world.

They hold value to the commitment they make to themselves and to those they engage. Though they handle business globally, they insist on maintaining the following values everywhere they do business. One value is putting customers first, they have an obligation to provide towards the need of customers and go an extra mile to increase their value to clients by suggesting additional assistance. The company also holds a value in taking ownership for their actions, they are proud of what they produce but also lend a listening years to critics for improvement.

Another value that drives Axalta Coating Company is the urge to improve their performance daily. The company does this in an attempt to keep pace with the ever-changing market so that they can remain competitive.

Read More