Opportunities for Cleaner Production (CP) Using Process Flow Analysis: Case Study of a Furniture Manufacturer in the City of Palhoça (SC, Brazil)

Patrícia Soares Lins,Asher Kiperstok,Rita Dione Araujo Cunha,Sandro Fábio César,Áurea Luiza Quixabeira Rosa E Silva Rapôso Rapôso

doi:10.3390/su12030863

Abstract

The present article was aimed at identifying opportunities for cleaner production (CP) from the process flow analysis of a furniture manufacturing company located in the municipality of Palhoça (SC, Brazil). The company was used as an exploratory case study with a qualitative approach. The criteria used for the flow analysis and for identifying the opportunities of CP were associated to the systems and technologies employed, as well as to the process analysis and to the project layout factors (stock location, movement). With this, 107.24 m2 of wasted areas were found in the production environment, of which 72.06 m2 included the floor area with material to be discarded (waste) and 66.93 m of flow lines with returns and crossings. The study identified that the total flow lines of the company represented a total of 775.58 m, with the possibility of being reduced by 29.45%. This reduction is a result of optimizing the physical space and reducing waste with material handling. Twenty-five opportunities of a CP associated to the process flow analysis (layout) were listed. The analyses also indicated that the association of CP to process flows as a preventive measure leads to a new connection between process optimization and environmental performance.

Highlights

The adaption of companies to new trends in society, as well as to new technologies, the optimization of processes in the physical factory space, combined with the adaption to socio-environmental issues and the continuous search for a cleaner production (CP) are contemporary needs that increase competition levels, attached with social and environmental responsibilities.Environmental issues bring great challenges to companies
This article was aimed at identifying the opportunities of CP from the process flow analysis of a furniture manufacturing company located in the municipality of Palhoça, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (SC)
The methodology used for the process flow analysis of the physical space of the industrial facility layout enabled identifying the opportunities of cleaner production (CP) in the furniture manufacturing company, during processing, in the location itself, and in the generating source

Summary

Introduction

The adaption of companies to new trends in society, as well as to new technologies, the optimization of processes in the physical factory space, combined with the adaption to socio-environmental issues and the continuous search for a cleaner production (CP) are contemporary needs that increase competition levels, attached with social and environmental responsibilities. Environmental issues bring great challenges to companies These issues put pressure on companies to take into account environmental impacts in their business plans, as these impacts may have an effect on costs (reduction of time, material, and energy) and increase customer demand [1]. Besides managing resources and optimizing processes, under an environmental management perspective, companies must fulfil the needs of the new profile of customers and consumers (green consumers) of products and services, who seek economic, social, and environmental responsibility (reducing waste, pollutants, and costs) [3]. The priorities of the industry of the contemporary world must take into account a sustainable economy and energy, as well as digital economy, smart mobility, safety, sustainable infrastructure, and an innovative workspace [4], i.e., the layout of work facilities

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