Low energy production impact on lean flow
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 7 April 2015
Abstract
Purpose
Rising energy costs and potential scarcity are driving energy reduction initiatives in manufacturing companies. The reduction in energy use is complementary to the classic lean production philosophy and the lean and green literature implies that reducing energy waste supports lean objectives. The purpose of this paper is to examine this perceived positive correlation and identify the impact level of energy reduction of lean product flow.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this, published case studies and practices from interview were gathered and categorised against a waste management hierarchy.
Findings
Energy reduction activities implicitly reduce waste which is compatible with the lean waste objective, however, when applying the waste hierarchy principle to energy efficiency practice, lean product flow is progressively constrained or compromised towards the lower levels of the hierarchy.
Research limitations/implications
The hierarchical classification seeks to communicate how reported energy efficiency improvements will/will not impact on flow. The research focuses on the modification of existing discrete part production facilities towards greater energy efficiency and neglects alternative production technologies and new build. The results suggest that as manufacturers seeking to be more energy efficient move away from preventative actions to more reduce and reuse actions then production flexibility could become restricted and the design of production facilities make re-think the fast, linear and short flow of product.
Practical implications
Examples of industrial practices are provided to show the implications of energy reduction practice on production flow.
Originality/value
Categorises the relationship between classic lean and industrial low-energy initiatives to provide insight to how higher energy cost could impact on production.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank those manufacturers and individuals who contributed to the data referenced in this paper including: MD, SE, SH, AL, PL, SR, RW.
Citation
Ball, P. (2015), "Low energy production impact on lean flow", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-12-2012-0120
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited