Resource saving in microwave sensor production through lean green principles
Connaught Electronics Ltd. (CEL) focused on improving the environmental performance of a product and production line by taking a holistic view of the process. An objective was to train designers in Eco-Design and apply the principles to a new product. The company designed a smaller ‘microwave sensor’ unit with comparable functionality, which uses less power consumption during its life cycle. This resulted in a product in excess of 30% lighter and 30% less in volume. Energy savings also accrued due to the eco-design approach in the order of 30%.
CEL worked closely with the plastics supplier to incorporate 10% recyclate content into plastic housings. Some tests were undertaken on the plastics to compare dimensions, function and surface finish by incorporating recycled materials.
CEL collaborated with Ideas in the UK to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of ‘Smart Plastics’ that would facilitate speed of disassembly. ‘Smart Plastics’ can be designed to open housings and improve disassembly efficiency at the end of their life.
In the production process there were significant improvements in product yield and production efficiency which improved resource utilisation. Production efficiency improvements of 75% were achieved by investing in some equipment to remove the bottleneck in the process, undertaking takt time analysis and implementing 6S continuous improvement methods.
For further details, see the Connaught Electonics CGPP 2 PDF.
