As part of a customer-and-market-facing sustainability strategy, manufacturers can differentiate their business and become supply chain partners of choice. Businesses that have pursued sustainable manufacturing goals have also achieved superior operational excellence and enabled their business to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon footprint
- Reduce water consumption footprint
- Reduce fossil-based energy consumption
- Minimize or eliminate solid, hazardous, and other wastes
- Optimize the productivity of employees, equipment, and machines
- Optimize the use of alternative and renewable energy generation sources
- Optimize the ingenuity of employees for continuous improvement
- Legitimize and pass on tangible and quantifiable energy, environmental, economic and value-added benefits to customers, vendors, and the local community.
Achieving operational excellence and working to be a sustainable manufacturer does not happen overnight. Manufacturing environments are dynamic and need to be monitored and understood before costly investments are made in new equipment or infrastructure. While many facilities may adopt similar technologies, such as building-integrated photovoltaic systems or installing high-efficiency lighting, there is no one-size solution that fits every manufacturer.
The process requires a well-planned and executed strategy that also has a long-view. Creating value from investments in new technologies and operational practices can be achieved when strong management systems are linked to a disciplined approach to measuring, collecting, monitoring, and analyzing the right data.
Energy use represents a large impact on many manufacturing environments. By evaluating energy use in all facets of operations — from the equipment level to the power grid — informed decisions can be made on how to take action on energy efficiency and management.
Taking Action on Goals
In pursuit of sustainability, manufacturers realize that energy is the most significant element of their impact and responsibility. Harbec has worked hard to create an integrated approach to improve operational efficiency and the infrastructure of its facilities.
There are pragmatic steps, processes, and technologies that can be used to improve energy efficiency. To address its energy footprint, Harbec had to understand its energy baseline and energy demand and cycling of injection molding machines in-step with production schedules, and the diversity of CNC machines and other tools used at their facility. In addition, the company made significant energy efficiency and resource utilization improvements including:
Adopting Proactive Energy Measurement and Management Systems, Including ISO 50,001/SEP
The "SEP” certification associated with the ISO 50001 stands for "Superior Energy Performance.” SEP is a program that enables facilities to verify their energy performance with a transparent and globally accepted system. It also ensures companies have the right data to support continual improvements for energy efficiency.
Optimizing Equipment Performance and Life Through Embedded Sensors and Data Acquisition
As part of their ISO 50001/SEP process, Harbec is putting into place an energy management system that will ultimately be able to measure energy at the equipment/machine level for each of its 40 injection molding machines, 40 CNC machines, laser sintering, and other specialty equipment. This will enable the company to proactively manage its energy use and the reliability and durability of its equipment. The adoption of sensors that can relay energy data at the sub-machine/component and machine level will allow operations managers to assess equipment health/performance and thereby its reliability. Proactive data acquisition and management will lead to less downtime, better servicing of equipment/machines, and a more optimally performing business in the long run.
On-site Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies to enable Fixed Energy costs and Increased Energy Utilization
To achieve this, Harbec has deployed two wind turbines rated at 250kW and an 850kW respectively and has integrated combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed generation (DG) systems consisting of 25 Capstone microturbines rated at 30 kW providing a 750 kW potential. Approximately 50% of Harbec’s electrical power is provided by its two wind turbines. The balance is purchased from 100% green power sources.
Eliminating the Concept of Waste
Hot exhaust generated by Harbec’s 25 micro turbine generators is directed to a heat exchanger which transfers the heat to water. The hot water is then used to heat the building through radiant in-floor systems and pre-existing forced air systems. During the summer, the hot water is sent to an absorptive chiller, which creates cold water for air-conditioning. This co-generation operation produces less than 10% of the CO2 emissions that the most efficient oil or coal burning utilities produce to manufacture the same amount of energy. Heat and air conditioning are free by-products of the combined heat and power (CHP) process.
Adopting Eco-economic Equipment Procurement Guidelines
Harbec has created and adopted an "Eco-Economic Decision Criteria” for all new equipment that includes parameters for assessing equipment energy efficiency and performance.
Targeting High-efficiency Project Opportunities
Harbec conducted its own in-house analysis and relied on external consultants to evaluate such energy efficiency projects as high efficiency lighting and daylight gathering, building envelope, HVAC, and thermal energy efficiency improvements. Lighting technology improvements have reduced the electric requirement for lighting by 50%.
Investing in New Equipment for Long-term Gains
Implementation of efficiency solutions within manufacturing processes included insulating the barrels of every injection molding machine in the facility, which reduced the energy used in the molding process by 40 to 50%. In addition, Harbec has purchased electric injection molding machines that have further reduced energy consumption while having a positive impact on processing speed and cycle time.
Translating Efficiency into Value
The adoption of alternative energy technologies such as distributed generation or CHP systems requires a thorough understanding of energy consumption, peak energy demand, utility pricing, and other factors. Based on its findings, Harbec realized energy costs can account for 6 to 8% of total operational expenses, yet they greatly contribute to the overall GHG and carbon impact of the business.
As Bob Bechtold, president of Harbec noted, "Six to eight% may not seem like a lot, but for a tight margin business it adds up to quite a bit…further these figures equate to the level of investment we can absorb to support new energy projects…it’s not about the ROI for individual technologies, it’s about the acquisition of high-value assets (infrastructure) while achieving a net positive ROI for earning future business based upon our operational efficiency and ability to market our accomplishments.”
Mark Coleman is a business development manager for Harbec Inc. He is the author of the book The Sustainability Generation: The Politics of Change and Why Personal Accountability is Essential NOW!.
Throughout his career, Mark has developed a strong focus on the critical areas of energy, environment, and sustainability. His career has spanned strategic and leadership positions in government, applied research, technology development, and management consulting organizations. This rich and diverse experience has enabled him to have access to, engage, and work with a broad range of regional, national, and international leaders on the subject of sustainability.
This article is part two of an exclusive three-part series intended to delve deeper into the dynamics of sustainable manufacturing, what it means, how it is achieved, and the value it can bring to the business enterprise and customers. It also covers the challenges and opportunities associated with creating a culture of sustainability in a manufacturing environment. See below for parts two and three.
Part 1: Sustainable Manufacturing Is Shaping America’s Industrial Future
Part 3: Sustainability Happens When People and Innovation Collide