Positive Trend for Manufacturing: Sustainability
October 26, 2018Figure 1: Society has become highly aware of “the bigger picture” in terms of the global impact of various business practices.In a world where interconnectedness has become the norm, it’s no surprise that society has become highly aware of “the bigger picture” in terms of the global impact of various business practices. One of the most positive consequences is the growing interest in sustainable manufacturing.
Sustainability in this context considers numerous factors, including the minimization of environmental impact, conservation of resources and following economically sound processes. The benefits of taking a sustainable approach are significant, from realizing cost savings through greater operational efficiency to brand strengthening by building public trust. It can also ensure a healthier and safer work environment, along with attracting new customers and driving investment.
In order for sustainable manufacturing to be viable, it must be approached with a thorough and coordinated strategy. Before changes can be implemented, a factory’s current level of sustainability needs to be assessed. In the United States, a good place to start this process is E3, a federal technical-assistance framework comprised of six government agencies. E3 brings small- and medium-sized manufacturers together with governmental experts as E3 communities to create customized assessments and recommendations for incorporating practical measures.
The E3 philosophy goes beyond merely incorporating efforts at “being green” or adopting lean manufacturing techniques. By identifying and addressing root causes of waste and inefficiency, the approach allows companies to increase capacity and stay competitive. During E3’s first eight years of operation, its communities created 1,515 new jobs and retained 2,802 existing positions. Green Suppliers Network is another part of the E3 framework, which increases responsiveness in the supply chain while also reducing the cumulative carbon footprint of products.
Looking beyond the U.S., the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers a Sustainable Manufacturing Toolkit developed with small- and medium-sized enterprises in mind and designed to be internationally applicable. The toolkit breaks the process of achieving sustainability into action steps that include identifying performance indicators, assessing operations and understanding performance trends. Calculation methods and technical guidance are included for numerous sustainable manufacturing indicators, as well.
OECD goes so far as to suggest that, as a way of doing business and creating value, sustainable manufacturing is actually exciting. Considering some of the emergent technologies available to the manufacturing sector, this assessment makes sense. The internet of things (IoT) can play a key role, as can cloud computing and other aspects of Industry 4.0. It will indeed be exciting to see where the trend toward sustainable manufacturing goes next.
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