Manufacturing and processing long tubular parts, considering environmental protection implications

Abstract

This paper addresses a topical issue around the world, i.e. the issue of minimizing environmental and human pollution. The subsequent aim of this paper is to develop an appropriate methodology for assessing the negative impact potentially exerted by a manufacturing process on the environment and workers. Research has been conducted in order to determine an index of negative impact on the environment and workers. Through the research carried out, the determining factors in environmental pollution have been identified and quantifiable indicators have subsequently been associated with them. Additionally, an impact index has finally been determined by calculation. This methodology was applied in the case of the drilling/perforation processes on long tubular parts, particularly featured in the automotive industry. The emerging results show the negative impact exerted by each of the processes considered on the environment. The manufacturing processes in which the impact index has low values close to zero are significantly close to a standard of non-polluting manufacturing processes with zero-impact index. The methodology adopted in this paper has led to the identification of the range of pollutants that should be improved, removed or at least reduced, in order to achieve a zero-impact index.