What Key Drivers Are Needed to Implement Material Efficiency Strategies? An Analysis of the Electrical and Electronic Industry in Malaysia and Its Implications to Practitioners (original) (raw)

Resources Sustainability through Material Efficiency Strategies: An Insight Study of Electrical and Electronic Companies

Resources, 2019

The circular economy (CE) is in a growing trend, especially to address the concern of resources sustainability, both from academics as well as industrial practitioners. For manufacturing businesses and services to be sustainable, using materials efficiently is an essential strategy, which is able to enhance the promotion of CE. However, for a developing country like Malaysia, little is known about the ongoing material efficiency strategies among the manufacturers. This paper presents a qualitative investigation of adopting material efficiency strategies in the manufacturing industry. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the material efficiency strategies at selected Electrical and Electronics (E&E) companies in Malaysia. A list of 11 E&E companies material efficiency strategies were determined and explicated. This paper provides valuable insights to academics and practitioners for a better understanding of the current practices pertaining to the material efficiency strate...

Analytic Hierarchy Process-Based Analysis to Determine the Barriers to Implementing a Material Efficiency Strategy: Electrical and Electronics’ Companies in the Malaysian Context

Sustainability, 2016

Material efficiency is one of the most important strategies for helping manufacturing companies achieve sustainability in their production activities. However, there are many barriers to the implementation of material efficiency strategies in the manufacturing processes and overall business operations. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the barriers faced by Electrical and Electronics (E&E) manufacturing companies in Malaysia in implementing material efficiency strategies. A mixed-mode research method was employed to collect data from these companies. Semi-structured interviews were used to identify the barriers faced by the Malaysian Electrical and Electronics (E&E) industry, while an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) survey was utilized to determine the importance of each barrier. Seven companies participated in the semi-structured interviews, and 18 companies took part in the AHP survey. Nine barriers were generated from analysis of the interviews, and were then ranked by priority using the AHP method. These important findings could be used as a guide for E&E companies in managing or overcoming barriers during the implementation of material efficiency strategies and other sustainable manufacturing activities.

Maximizing towards the Sustainability: Integrating Materials, Energy, and Resource Efficiency in revolutionizing Manufacturing Industry

E3S web of conferences, 2022

The use of a sustainable future has led to the recognition of the crucial role played by the combination of materials, energy, and resource efficiency. The integration in question exemplifies the fundamental concepts of circularity, the optimisation of resources, and the responsible management of the environment. The focal point lies in the conscientious acquisition and administration of materials, as well as the prudent utilisation of energy resources and the reduction of waste. This abstract explores the importance of incorporating materials, energy, and resource efficiency in order to achieve sustainability. It emphasises concrete, practical applications that exemplify the feasibility and transformative capacity of this integrated approach. There are many practical applications of the utilisation of reclaimed wood for the production of sustainable furniture, the incorporation of recycled steel in the construction of building structures, and the integration of eco-friendly composites in the manufacturing processes of the automotive industry. The electronics sector is currently integrating circular economy principles into its operations by adopting strategies that prioritise the ease of disassembly, repair, and recycling of items. Apple and similar corporations have implemented recycling initiatives aimed at refurbishing and repurposing outdated equipment, thereby prolonging their lifespan and reducing the generation of electronic waste. By examining these actual applications and others, it becomes evident that the incorporation of materials, energy, and resource efficiency not only corresponds with sustainability objectives but also yields concrete environmental, economic, and societal advantages.

Evaluating the Environmental Dimension of Material Efficiency Strategies Relating to the Circular Economy

2017

Material efficiency is a key element of new thinking to address the challenges of reducing impacts on the environment and of resource scarcity, whilst at the same time meeting service and functionality demands on materials. Directly related to material efficiency is the concept of the Circular Economy, which is based on the principle of optimising the utility embodied in materials and products through the life cycle. Whilst steel, as a result of high recycling rates, is one of the most ‘circular’ of all manufactured materials, significant opportunities for greater material efficiency exist, which are yet to be widely implemented. In the field of Life Cycle Management, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is commonly used to assess the environmental benefits of recovering and recycling materials through the manufacturing supply chain and at end-of-life. As well as containing information to calculate environmental impacts, LCA models also provide the flows of materials through the ...

An approach for analysing the potential for material efficiency improvement

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 1995

Material efficiency improvement saves energy and reduces the consumption of primary resources and reduces the volume of waste. In this article an approach for analysing the potential for material efficiency improvement is proposed and discussed. In this approach the product functions performed by the materials and various improvement measures are taken into account. The potential for material saving and associated energy saving is assessed and evaluated economically. In this paper the approach is tested in an analysis of the potential for material efficiency improvement with respect to plastic packaging in the Netherlands. The technical reduction potential is found to be 34 + 7% (157-t-30 ktonne virgin plastics). Realization of this potential would improve the energy efficiency of the lifecycle of plastic packaging by 31% (10 PJ in 1988). From our study we conclude that our approach can indeed be used to investigate the potential for material efficiency improvement. However, a reliable technical and particularly an economical assessment of reduction measures cannot be made until more detailed data become available.

Sustainable Manufacturing Practices Implementation in Malaysia Industries

Jurnal Teknologi

Implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices brings lot of gains and benefits not alone to the manufacturing industries but also to their immediate environment. Such benefits includes increase the manufacturing capacity, good industry image, environmental friendly product, enhance business profile, consumer perceptions and corporate reputation. Nevertheless, many manufacturing industries are still unable to properly implements sustainable manufacturing practices. Hence, this paper identifies the sustainable manufacturing practices among manufacturing industries. Data were collected based on quantitative research method using self-administered questionnaires. A total of 104 manufacturing industries were selected based on stratified random sampling technique and SPSS was used to analyze the data. The result identified some applicable and non-applicable factors that affect proper implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices among manufacturing industries. Thus, the st...

Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: Reducing Waste and Energy Consumption in Production Systems

European Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology, 2020

Sustainable manufacturing practices are increasingly vital in the quest for environmentally responsible production systems. This study explores strategies aimed at reducing waste and energy consumption within manufacturing processes, addressing both environmental and economic challenges. Sustainable manufacturing focuses on optimizing resource use, minimizing waste generation, and lowering energy intensity, which aligns with global sustainability goals and offers significant operational benefits. The paper reviews various approaches and technologies contributing to sustainable manufacturing. Key strategies include lean manufacturing, which emphasizes the reduction of waste through continuous improvement, and the adoption of energy-efficient machinery and renewable energy sources. Innovations such as additive manufacturing and circular economy principles are also examined for their potential to transform traditional manufacturing processes. Additive manufacturing reduces material waste by building components layer-by-layer, while circular economy practices promote recycling and reuse, extending product lifecycles and conserving resources. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of cultural and organizational shifts towards sustainability. Effective implementation requires engaging stakeholders across all levels of an organization, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, and incorporating training and awareness programs. Through a comprehensive review of current research and case studies, this paper identifies the benefits and challenges associated with sustainable manufacturing practices. The findings underscore the critical role of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing sustainable manufacturing and addressing the environmental challenges of modern production systems. This study provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers committed to enhancing sustainability in manufacturing operations.

Material Efficiency Measurement: Empirical Investigation of Manufacturing Industry

Procedia Manufacturing, 2017

Improving material efficiency contributes to reduce the volume of industrial waste as well as resource consumption. However, less has been published addressing on what to measure for material efficiency in a manufacturing company. This paper presents the current practice of material efficiency performance indicators in a manufacturing context through a bottom-up approach. In addition to literature review, the empirical data was collected via a multiple case study at seven global manufacturing companies located in Sweden. The results show that existing material efficiency indicators are limited and are mainly measured as a cost or quality parameter rather than environment. The limited number of measurements relates to the fact that material efficiency is not considered as a central business in manufacturing companies and is managed by environmental department with limited correlation to operation. Additionally, these measurements do not aim to reduce waste volume or improve homogeneity of generated waste.

A Case Study of Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

Journal of Advanced Management Science, 2014

Sustainable manufacturing practices aims at minimizing the impacts of manufacturing operations on the environment while optimizing the production efficiency of firms. Today, products are no longer judged by the price but the sustainable initiatives implemented by firms. Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of manufacturing operations have traditionally been viewed as an obstacle to profitability and efficiency. However, studies have shown that the implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices is beneficial to firms. This research reports a case study on the sustainable manufacturing practices of a selected company in Kedah, Malaysia. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview from key personnel in the company that directly involved in the implementation of the practices. The interview was recorded and transcribed and the result revealed that responsive product strategy, lean practices, supply chain restructuring and sustainable material and design are the sustainable manufacturing practices implemented by the case company while on-time delivery, recycle carbon fibre and trend to green material are the benefits of sustainable manufacturing practices. 