(Re)layout as a Strategy for Implementing Cleaner Production: Proposal for a Furniture Industry Company

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

doi:10.3390/su132313109

Abstract

This article includes the proposal of a (re)layout project as a strategy to implement Cleaner Production (CP) practices, with a furniture manufacturing company in the Brazilian municipality of Palhoça (Santa Catarina, Brazil) as a case study. This work is characterized as applied research, using a multi-methodological approach, being subdivided into two different steps: literature review and case study. The (re)layout project led to an increase of the administrative area by 25.18%, having had a positive impact on the management areas, aiming towards the integration of Environmental Management, ecodesign, Production Planning and Control sectors. The project led to a decrease of the total stock area of raw materials/storage by 70.01 m2, representing a reduction of 25.59% when compared to the previous area. The project resulted in an increase of the plant production capacity, increasing the production area by 33.33%, thus optimizing areas and sectors, combining those which are inter-related. The byproducts also stood out in the layout mapping, with the areas allocated to byproducts being reduced by 51.69%. Therefore, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were fulfilled. The removal of physical waste and production losses can be achieved from a (re)layout project integrated with CP by optimizing, areas, sectors, flows and processes.

Highlights

Cleaner Production (CP) was defined in 1990 by the United Nations EnvironmentalProgram (UNEP) as an integrated environmental prevention strategy applied to production processes, products and services with the objective of continuously improving the efficiency of systems while reducing the risks for human beings and the environment [1]
By carrying out thelayout project integrated to CP practices, the administrative area of the company (a.1/Table 2) was expanded by 25.18% when compared to the base layout, having a positive influence on the arrangement of the physical spaces for activities related to management, the integration of preventive Environmental Management (EM), safety and ecodesign to the Production Planning and Control (PPC), as well as dispatching activities
The data of the present research confirm the hypothesis that alayout project is a strategy for the implementation of CP in Small and Medium-sizedEnterprises (SMEs), boosting changes in areas and sectors, promoting the optimization of processes and the minimizing waste and production losses

Summary

Introduction

Cleaner Production (CP) was defined in 1990 by the United Nations Environmental. Program (UNEP) as an integrated environmental prevention strategy applied to production processes, products and services with the objective of continuously improving the efficiency of systems while reducing the risks for human beings and the environment [1]. In the 1990s, UNEP and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) started the industry support program, promoting the provision of CP services, and Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) to support Small and Medium-sized. It is linked to emission reductions, quality of health and safety in the work environment, to improvements in the quality of products and services, as well as to the optimization of Raw Materials (RM)

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