A Bottom-Up Methodology for Identifying Key Performance Indicators for Sustainability Monitoring of Unit Manufacturing Processes

Marija Glišić, Badrinath Veluri and Devarajan Ramanujan ()
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Marija Glišić: Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Badrinath Veluri: Motor Department, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Grundfos, 8850 Bjerringbro, Denmark
Devarajan Ramanujan: Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: With growing environmental concerns and regulatory requirements, manufacturers are increasingly required to monitor and reduce the environmental impacts of their production processes. Despite increasing digitalization and data-collection capabilities, manufacturers are challenged in collecting the right data and framing process improvement targets. To address this challenge, this paper presents a bottom-up methodology based on the life cycle assessment for identifying performance indicators with the goal of monitoring and reducing the overall environmental impacts of a manufacturing process. More specifically, process performance indicators are defined as a set of controllable process parameters, and their suitability for sustainability monitoring is evaluated based on their sensitivity, measurability, actionability, reliability, timeliness, and human-centricity with respect to a chosen environmental impact category. The bottom-up formulation of process performance indicators is demonstrated through a real-world case study on an infeed centerless grinding process in a large manufacturing company. Results from the case study show that the process performance indicators with regards to climate change impacts included (i) reduction in grinding time, (ii) reduction in total grinding power, (iii) reduction in sparkout time, and (iv) increase in batch size.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; sustainable manufacturing; key performance indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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