Manufacturing excellence for future production
perspectives
The three points of vital importance with
respect to manufacturing are that:
1) It is a basic means of human existence
2) It is a major contributor to the creation
of the wealth of a nation
3) It contributes to human happiness and world
peace
Manufacturing dilemma today
Today’s manufacturing in many economically
developed countries is faced with several issues like:
Concept Of Manufacturing Excellence
Manufacturing excellence is now proposed as
a keyword expressing the enhancement of the conditions of
goods production for pursuing human happiness while eliminating
the ‘hollowing ‘of production, 3K[kitanai (dirty),
kitsui (hard work) and kiken (dangerous)] and environmental
problems.
Approaches To Manufacturing Excellence
The following methods are effective in moving
towards manufacturing excellence:
1) Automated production/CIM systems
2) Flexible/human – centred production
3) High added – value production
4) Manufacturing for customer satisfaction
5) Green production
6) Socially appropriate production
Recycle-Oriented Manufacturing Systems
Design and production in the forthcoming years
should be directed to preservation of a better environment
in view of the material flow of procurement – production
- distribution - consumption – recycling – disposal.
This must be achieved in the early stage of design, by taking
resource saving into account thereby resulting in permanently
sustainable development. This is green design/ green production.
Recycle oriented manufacturing
The following activities are vital in the
recycle - oriented manufacturing system:
1) Considering the recycling of used materials
at the design stage
2) Enhancing re- production and re- use of
the parts
3) Analysing the cost effectiveness of the
recycling activity
Product’s Life-cycle Assessment
Quantitative analysis and evaluation of the
total environmental burden through a product’s life
is called life- cycle analysis. Life- cycle assessment (LCA)
is to reduce and minimise the environmental burden based
upon the total minimum cost principle. Environmental management
is presently being regulated by ISO 14000 to prevent air
pollution and earth destruction.
Socially Appropriate Production As Ultimate
Manufacturing Excellence
Industrial, particularly manufacturing activities,
consume huge amounts of natural resources. Hence excessive
production of industrial products accompanying global destruction
must be stopped and a way of obtaining appropriate profits
and long term moderate growth should be found. This is called
socially appropriate manufacturing/ production. Also, consumers
should refrain from ‘mass’ or excessive consumption
and move towards the goal of ‘minimum disposal’.
The above concept of manufacturing/ production
is considered as the ultimate ‘manufacturing excellence’.
It should be the vision of the future management strategy
of each individual manufacturing firm.
