Evaluation of Resource Efficient Process Chains for Secondary Manufacturing Processes of Bamboo Bicycles

Abstract

In order for manufacturing suppliers to stay competitive in the global market, innovative and resource efficient process chains need to be a part of the manufacturing strategy. Secondary manufacturing process steps entail the assembly and surface treatment manufacturing steps after the primary cutting and shaping of the components. Bicycles have an enormous effect on society, both in terms of socio-economics and of advancing modern industrial processes. In order to manufacture bamboo bicycle frames in South Africa innovative designs and process chains need to be developed. In this study process chains for secondary manufacturing processes of bamboo bicycles were developed and compared. The manual secondary process steps for manufacturing bamboo bicycles in Africa were mapped and compared with developed technological process chains in terms of resource efficiency. The effect on time and cost were evaluated.