Citation:
Despeisse M. Ball P, Evans S, Levers A. (2012) Zero carbon manufacturing through process flow modelling. In: MITIP 2009, 11th International Conference on the Modern Information Technology in the Innovation Processes of the Industrial Enterprises, 15-16 October 2009, Bergamo, Italy.
Abstract:
The pressure on natural resources and emerging environmental legislation are leading manufacturers to
adopt solutions to reduce their environmental impact, thereby becoming more sustainable, while
enhancing competitiveness. Current approaches in this area are fragmented and clustered around
technologies rather than around processes that link the technologies together. There is a need to better
understand material, energy and waste (MEW) flows, as well as the interaction between processes in a
manufacturing facility from a systemic viewpoint. This paper presents an approach using process flow
modelling in order to help manufacturers to identify potential improvements to progress towards
competitive sustainable manufacturing. Ultimately they could reach zero carbon manufacturing (ZCM)
by having zero material resource degradation, zero net energy demand and zero waste across the
system.