Technical, economic, and environmental performance assessment of manufacturing systems: The Multi-layer Enterprise Input-Output formalisation method

Abstract

In production planning and control, assessing the performance of a manufacturing system is a multi-dimensional problem, in which neglected dimensions may lead to hidden inefficiencies and missed opportunities for gaining a competitive advantage. This paper proposes a data formalisation method to model a manufacturing system by simultaneously considering value creation and technical, economic, and environmental performance. The proposed method combines the techno-economic assessment of lean manufacturing and sustainable manufacturing with the data-driven approach, typical of Industry 4.0, to overcome the limitations of the lean approaches in addressing complex systems. The method is based on integrating Multi-layer Stream Mapping and a combination of Enterprise Input-Output and Material Flow Analysis. It also considers non-value-added activities such as transport and inventories. Pen and papers and digital approaches can simultaneously exploit the method as a shared architecture for formal data integration. The implementation of the method is shown through a numerical example based on a recycled plastic pipeline manufacturing system.