Cross-Functional Mapping to Link Lean Manufacturing and Life Cycle Assessment in Environmental Impact Reduction

Abstract

In industry, carbon emissions are mainly produced from the amount of energy used in the manufacturing processes due to the burning of fossil fuels, material of products and transportation. The aim of this paper reports the synergy of integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and Lean manufacturing to reduce the negative environmental impacts of a plastic injection moulded product. A cross-functional mapping method is used because a number of functional areas such as Lean manufacturing and LCA are involved. This work demonstrated that the adaptation of lean thinking and LCA could minimise negative environmental impacts of a product significantly.