Sustainability in Manufacturing - Term Paper Example

Sustainability in manufacturing Introduction Manufacturing refers to the process of producing goods that are meant for sale. The manufacturing process is an activity carried out by different organisations all over the globe. Manufacturing process in this case, is carried out using tools, human labour, machines, biological and chemical processing. This manufacturing process is always applied mostly in production of industrial goods. In this process of production, raw materials are changed to finished goods before being released to the market for sale or before being used for other large scale productions. Manufacturing in the contemporary society, generally, involves processes intended to integrate components of a product. This review will specifically touch on measuring sustainability in automotive industries. An automotive industry refers to a range of companies that are involved in designing, developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling motorcycles, motor vehicles and towed vehicles. This means that they are companies that deal with production of locomotive products. Sustainability refers to the power to endure. Sustainability measurement is a term used to denote the size as the quantitative source for the informed administration of sustainability. The metrics that are used for measurements in sustainability evolve as time goes by. These metrics include indicators, audits, benchmarks, certification systems and sustainability standards. The sustainability measures that are widely used in the contemporary society include Triple Bottom Line Accounting and sustainability reporting. In this report, the discussion will mainly touch on sustainability measures in manufacturing process. In organisations that deal with manufacturing, implementation of sustainable manufacturing is applied because it is a strategy that has many benefits to the organisation at large. There are various reasons as to why sustainability has to be measured in manufacturing process (International Energy Agency, 2007, 154). These reasons are: To enhance energy saving. To improve on performance To track and report performance in order to avoid inconveniences. To have assurance of effective measurement outline These are some of the reasons why sustainability in manufacturing has to be measured. In order to have an effective measurement outline, there is a process that should be followed. These are the steps that are required in undertaking the sustainability measurement process. The steps to e followed are Step 1: Develop Sustainability Policy. An organisation has to articulate policy of sustainability. This is a statement that generally provides the basis for transformation of the entrepreneurship from linear to cyclical model. Step 2: Identify major aspects. It is a step which provides information on important aspects of performance. Step 3: Establish objectives. This is a step where the organisation in question establishes improvement objectives. Step 4: Select metrics and indicators. This is a step where the company makes a selection of sustainability indicators. At this point it is bit challenging since selection of indicators is not always easy. A company looks forward to making certain that the indicators chosen are effective enough. To find the most effective indicators it is not a simple task. This is the reason as to why it becomes a challenge. At this point various issues have to be taken into consideration in order to avoid inconveniences. Some of these issues include: Energy consumption and product use by customer. Step 5: Determine target. At this point, managers come together to make agreements on specific performance targets. This is a step meant to make a completion of the plan phase. Step 6: Obtain support. Support of line managers is obtained at this point to make certain that successful implementations are applied. Step 7: Integrate with Business Processes. The tools and procedures required for sustainability process are integrated with the existing processes and systems. Step 8: Track and report performance. Processes are tracked towards respective targets by accountable organizations and the results are then reported to senior administration staff. Step 9: Improved performance. Basing on the performance results, the teams in the organisation focus on implementing operations that are meant to help to improve performance. There are several products and services in which the sustainability method can be implemented to. These products and services include: i. Clean energy systems ii. Power management software iii. Bio- compostable and biodegradable packaging iv. Energy saving components and machinery v. Consulting vi. Water treatment In many manufacturing companies today, the administrative staffs are able to make helpful contributions to a sustainable future through various ways. They include use of alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar power, new approaches for production and manufacturing processes to cause reduction in demand of scarce resources and enable sustainable growth (Alting, 1993, 163-167). A sustainable future can also be created through analysis of production systems to save energy and eliminate waste. Utilisation of technology and implementation of manufacturing methods that help drive out water from all production processes can also be used (Seliger, 2008, 68). Indicators of sustainability An indicator refers to an instrument that provides information on something. In this case an indicator used in manufacturing process is an instrument used to provide information on various manufacturing processes that are carried out in various organisations (US Department of commerce, 7-11). There are two types of indicators namely: direct indicators and indirect indicators. Direct indicators are those that refer directly to the subject matters in which they have been specifically developed for (Persson, 2007, 125). On the other hand, indirect indicators are those that refer to an oblique way to the subject matter. Direct indicators are therefore, used in technical and operational subject matters. The fact that indirect indicators refer to subjects in an unclear manner, shows that these types of indicators have to be formulated for them to work effectively (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, 134). There are various aspects of manufactured goods sustainability that should be taken into consideration in order to know the measures to take (Ministry of economy, 2007, 182). These aspects are environmental, societal and economic. In each category there are issues to be looked at in order to implement effective measures (Monden, 1993, 68). a) Environmental In this case, market consumption, energy consumption, local impacts and regional impacts are the aspects put into consideration. Under market consumption, significance of product lifetime is important, knowledge on all materials in order to avoid the hazardous ones and the mass used in product and packaging mass (McDonough, 2002, 74). These are the three issues that are mainly concerned with market consumption subject of production. Under energy consumption, the issues of concern are the use of power during the manufacturing operation and the life cycle energy (Maxwell, 2006, 1466-1479). With the local impacts issues to be considered are recyclability of products and impact on local streams. The third subject matter is regional impacts where creation of smog, reduction in biodiversity and acid rain signs are major issues of concern (Jovane, 1995, 1-13). Global impact is the last subject of concern where depletion of the ozone layer and emissions of CO2 matters to be considered (Ministry of economy, 2007, 182). b) Economic aspect Under this subject matter, the sub-issues of concern include the potentially hidden, direct impacts, relationship, externalities and contingent. With the potentially hidden the factors to be controlled are the cost of product disposition and revenue for recycling processes (Johansson, 2008, 82). Under direct impact there are issues such as cost of raw materials, cost of labour and the capital cost required to undertake manufacturing processes effectively. In relationship, the issues of concern here majorly cover the social area where employees combine effort to make certain that the final products are the best (Ingvarsson, 2006, 189). Under externalities, depletion of resources and productivity loss in the ecosystem are the subjects to be reviewed in order to make corrections for effective production. Contingent is the last issue of concern the cost of employee injuries and warranty cost are reviewed (Ministry of economy, 2007, 182). c) Societal aspect Peace of mind, quality of life, reductions in accidents and injuries, disease reduction and health in general are the main subject matters. Looking at the category of peace of mind, complaints and perceived risks are issues to be dealt with (Hong, 2000, 331-338). The other issues that fall under the category of life quality are enhancement of knowledge and satisfaction of the employees. In reduction of diseases and accident reduction, working to make certain that there is reduction in mortality rate and analysing reports on reportable releases, number of cases and lost time injuries are the subject matters to be reviewed respectively. Lastly the health deals with the well being of the employees where it is ensured that they have a high value of nutrition provided and reasonable food costs (Harrel, 1995, 121). This is meant to ensure that they have access to food and that they are healthy enough to have strength needed in working to produce best products as it is the wish of every company. In automotive companies all these subjects have to be dealt with. This is to make certain that the products produced are effective enough so that issues like accidents and injuries may be reduced. Automotives are widely used in the contemporary society so they have impacts on various fields of life. This is the reason why there production has to be given much attention. It is the wish of every company to maintain customers and even attract more. For automotive companies all over the globe, it is best for the administration staffs to ensure that effective measures are implemented in order to boost satisfaction of clients so that they can maintain those who already work with them and even attract more. There are therefore aspects, objectives and targets for every indicators used. Below is a table illustrating the various indicators, aspects and the objectives (Winters, 2007, 35-66). Aspect Objective Indicator Energy Conserve energy resource Fuel use Water Improve utility modelling Discharges of water Waste Implement a strategy to monitor waste that is produced and to increase the recovery of plastics. Recycling Air Reduce emission of hydrocarbon CO2 emissions Energy use Effective energy for effective production Fuel production Social responsibility Reduce accidents Peer reviews and assessments Environmental management Control impacts on environment and health Public view surveys Utilisation of materials Increase material efficiency Reduction of waste Financial Manage the company sustainably Competitiveness of new products Dimensions of the sustainability indicators There are three major dimensions in measuring sustainability in manufacturing process. These dimensions are environmental, economic and social dimensions (Dries, 2005, 245-270). These dimensions are meant to show how different aspects affect production in manufacturing industries. In this case, the aspects that will be discussed are those that affect production in automotive industries. The three aspects that will be discussed are equity, efficiency and stock. Below is a table showing how these three aspects contribute to production in automotive industries (Jodicke, 1999, 159-166). Aspect Environmental dimension Economic dimension Social dimension Stock Maintaining the available stock to avoid shortages and inconveniences Efficiency Efficiency to the environment such as no pollution and destruction of natural resources Utilisation of the available factors of production which in this case is labour and capital. Creation of employment and institutional efficiency in terms of relationships among workers. Equity Setting up level of basis for equal balance to avoid exploiting natural resources. Balanced pattern and maintenance of development for effective production and reduction of shortage of some raw materials. Equal treatment and opportunities to employees. In the United Kingdom, there are several indicators that are used to ensure that there is sustainable production. In this case, the most used indicators in the region include: recycling, energy efficiency, ethical requirements, water discharge and reduction of waste. These indicators are mainly used to ensure that production is sustainable enough which leads to effective services. Indicators of sustainable development include: health developments, human settlements, unemployment rate, growth of urban population, land use, rate of extinction of protected species, migration rates, social safety and child labour among other indicators (Jawahir, 2007, 45). Framework and formulation for indicators A framework refers to a structure meant to be a guide in developing something or carrying out certain activities. Below is a framework to illustrate formulation of indicators for effective sustainability (Tomiyama, 996, 159-178). Enterprise Supply chain Production operations Product design Process design Carbon Trading New products and services identification Energy planning New office facilities Transport asset efficiency Carbon tracking Renewable power Energy management Production efficiency Emission of low carbon Energy efficient products Optimised processes Virtual validation Flexible production. New constructions Alternative processes The indicators that are being formulated in the above frame work are: energy reduction, hazardous materials, waste management, emissions reduction and scarce raw materials and water (Seliger, 2007, 91). Key performance indicator This is a key performance indicator that shows economical, societal and environmental impacts of manufacturing process. Manufacturing basically has effects on the environment, society and economic as it involves activities that are carried around us. The following is a table showing impacts of manufacturing process of all the three fields. Economic Social Environment Low sales due to change in demand of products. Change in prices which brings about changes in the development of the economy generally High competition from other companies Changes in exports and imports affecting the development of economy Accidents due to failure in some of the manufactured locomotive parts Unemployment leading to low living standards which is caused by replacement of human labour by machines. Emission of harmful gases that may lead to ill health especially to the employees Emission of harmful gases which destroys living natural resources Destruction of natural resources as some is used as raw materials. Emission of harmful gases causing destruction to resources as well. Conclusion In conclusion, many automotive companies usually work to make certain that they come up with products that will satisfy the clients and those that have less negative impacts to the environments and other issues at large. This is the reason as to why they come up with ideas and implementations that help them work effectively to make certain that all activities are run smoothly so that the set objectives can be achieved (Heilala, 2007, 176). It is the wish of many companies to attain profit as that is the main reason for starting and running an entrepreneurship activity. This is one reason explaining why there is competition in companies that work to produce similar gods. They are all after working to impress their clients so that they can get more pay due to high sales (Charter, 2007, 98). Generally these types of organisations implement measures to ensure that all fields of dimensions have little negative impact so that products can be produced without any interference to daily activities (Boe, 1996, 87). Recommendation It is best for administrative bodies to make certain that all activities are run smoothly for effective production. In automotive industries, activities that are carried out require a lot of energy and concentration. This is because the products are usually used by many individuals and are used for many purposes such as transport in roads. The fact that they are used in roads means that they have to be properly constructed to avoid incidents such as accidents that may lead to serious injuries or even deaths. It is therefore, the responsibility of every company to make certain that all employees have all necessary facilities required to enhance effective production. In this case employees should be taken good care of since they require energy to be used while working. At this point, it is necessary for the management to ensure that all employees get medical services whenever they need them and that they are fit to work in such companies. 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