News
27 April 2017
MEMAN defines brand new set of integrated indicators for resource efficiency in manufacturing value chains

First pilot studies have shown that the resource saving potential throughout entire manufacturing value chains is at least five times higher than resource optimisation at a single company level. Up to 70% of resources used in manufacturing processes can be saved through the optimisation of interfaces and the development of new business models for entire value chains. If picked up by the manufacturing industry, the realisation of this potential could start the next wave of ‘eco-innovation’.

 

This is where the MEMAN project comes in. The project takes a holistic view of resource efficiency in the metal mechanical sector with a view to harvesting the potential for major industries such as automotive and aerospace.

 

MEMAN is developing a toolbox that will - for the first time - allow the identification of critical technical and non-technical indicators impacting the resource performance of manufacturing value chains.

 

The selection of a reliable set of performance indicators is key for assessing and monitoring the impact of resource efficiency measures. Yet such a set of indicators did not exist, because current management tools do not allow different kinds of information to be integrated in a consistent way.

 

Ernst-Udo Sievers, Director at MEMAN partner eiffo explains that “We have managed for the first time to integrate a coherent set of indicators for the optimisation of resource use in entire manufacturing value chains. Until now the selection of indicators for companies has been very difficult and often inefficient, because there are no available tools or models for this. The toolbox developed by MEMAN can have a huge impact for industry. It is a massive step towards making the manufacturing industry more resource efficient, and it will also be cost saving. We are now testing it with our industry partners.”

 

Key performance indicators for resource efficiency in manufacturing

 

There are several factors that companies have to take into account for the optimisation of the resources used in manufacturing value chains. These factors – which have different characteristics and roles in the production process – vary from CO2 emissions, energy and material use to production costs and safety at work. The set of technical, economic, social and ecological criteria developed by MEMAN will help assess how to optimise the entire value chain to make it more resource efficient.

 

The current results of the project already provide a good basis for the selection of indicators, based on the experiences of MEMAN’s partner companies. The manufacturing industry can also count on realistic examples as the project has created three scenarios for the implementation of these criteria. The scenarios have been created through real-life implementation in three clusters of manufacturing processes: casting, machining and surface finishing.

 

Through the innovative approach of the project, MEMAN’s findings can concretely contribute to one of the biggest challenges of the manufacturing industry today: reducing the use of the resources.

 

Have a look at MEMAN’s set of commonly agreed criteria of value chain optimisation for resource efficiency.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Ernst-Udo Sievers (‪udo.sievers@eiffo.de)

Valeria Mazzagatti (valeria.mazzagatti@greenovate.eu)