scholarly journals Validation of Sustainability Benchmarking Tool in the Context of Value-Added Wood Products Manufacturing Activities

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cagatay Tasdemir ◽  
Rado Gazo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Base Points

The primary objective of this study was to validate the sustainability benchmarking tool (SBT) framework proposed by the authors in a previous study. The SBT framework is focused on benchmarking triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability through exhaustive use of lean, six-sigma, and life cycle assessment (LCA). During the validation, sustainability performance of a value-added wood products’ production line was assessed and improved through deployment of the SBT framework. Strengths and weaknesses of the system were identified within the scope of the bronze frontier maturity level of the framework and tackled through a six-step analytical and quantitative reasoning methodology. The secondary objective of the study was to document how value-added wood products industries can take advantage of natural properties of wood to become frontiers of sustainability innovation. In the end, true sustainability performance of the target facility was improved by 2.37 base points, while economic and environmental performance was increased from being a system weakness to achieving an acceptable index score benchmark of 8.41 and system strength level of 9.31, respectively. The social sustainability score increased by 2.02 base points as a function of a better gender bias ratio. The financial performance of the system improved from a 33% loss to 46.23% profit in the post-improvement state. Reductions in CO2 emissions (55.16%), energy consumption (50.31%), solid waste generation (72.03%), non-value-added-time (89.30%), and cost performance (64.77%) were other significant achievements of the study. In the end, the SBT framework was successfully validated at the facility level, and the target facility evolved into a leaner, cleaner, and more responsible version of itself. This study empirically documents how synergies between lean, sustainability, six-sigma and life cycle assessment concepts outweigh their divergences and demonstrates the viability of the SBT framework.

Lean Six Sigma tools in the hiring process

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Sahay
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Causal Connection ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Right ◽  
Talent Acquisition

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how “Lean” principles from the manufacturing world can be adapted to create a best-in-class recruiting function and demonstrate the causal connection between the “value-added” recruiting activity and positive business results. Design/methodology/approach – This concept paper is based on practitioner experience in leveraging Lean Six Sigma tools in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the talent acquisition process. Findings – Talent acquisition today is an activity fraught with risks – Did we hire the right person, the right skills the right fit? – and has the maximum impact on an organization bottom line. It is more than just posting a requisition and making an offer, but a series of sourcing activities, branding efforts, assessment processes and on-boarding activities and more – all designed to help an organization answer these key questions and find talent relevant to its business context. Appraising some of the evolving best practices in talent acquisition within the larger ambit of talent management issues facing organizations at large underscores the need for a new way of thinking about talent management. Originality/value – Being more innovative in sourcing and recruiting can give organizations a sustainable competitive advantage with visible impact on the bottom line.

scholarly journals Environmental Product Declarations of Structural Wood: A Review of Impacts and Potential Pitfalls for Practice

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 362
Author(s):  
Freja Nygaard Rasmussen ◽  
Camilla Ernst Andersen ◽  
Alexandra Wittchen ◽  
Rasmus Nøddegaard Hansen ◽  
Harpa Birgisdóttir
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Data Uncertainty ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Laminated Veneer Lumber ◽  
Environmental Product Declarations ◽  
Timber Products

The use of wood and timber products in the construction of buildings is repeatedly pointed towards as a mean for lowering the environmental footprint. With several countries preparing regulation for life cycle assessment of buildings, practitioners from industry will presumably look to the pool of data on wood products found in environmental product declarations (EPDs). However, the EPDs may vary broadly in terms of reporting and results. This study provides a comprehensive review of 81 third-party verified EN 15804 EPDs of cross laminated timber (CLT), glulam, laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and timber. The 81 EPDs represent 86 different products and 152 different product scenarios. The EPDs mainly represent European production, but also North America and Australia/New Zealand productions are represented. Reported global warming potential (GWP) from the EPDs vary within each of the investigated product categories, due to density of the products and the end-of-life scenarios applied. Median results per kg of product, excluding the biogenic CO2, are found at 0.26, 0.24, and 0.17 kg CO2e for CLT, glulam, and timber, respectively. Results further showed that the correlation between GWP and other impact categories is limited. Analysis of the inherent data uncertainty showed to add up to ±41% to reported impacts when assessed with an uncertainty method from the literature. However, in some of the average EPDs, even larger uncertainties of up to 90% for GWP are reported. Life cycle assessment practitioners can use the median values from this study as generic data in their assessments of buildings. To make the EPDs easier to use for practitioners, a more detailed coordination between EPD programs and their product category rules is recommended, as well as digitalization of EPD data.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Produced in Western Washington: The Role of Logistics and Wood Species Mix

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Chen ◽  
Francesca Pierobon ◽  
Indroneil Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Wood Species ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Cross Laminated Timber ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Western Washington ◽  
Manufacturing Facilities

The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), as an environmentally sustainable building material, has generated significant interest among the wood products industry, architects and policy makers in Washington State. However, the environmental impacts of CLT panels can vary significantly depending on material logistics and wood species mix. This study developed a regionally specific cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of CLT produced in western Washington. Specifically, this study focused on transportation logistics, mill location, and relevant wood species mixes to provide a comparative analysis for CLT produced in the region. For this study, five sawmills (potential lamstock suppliers) in western Washington were selected along with two hypothetical CLT mills. The results show that the location of lumber suppliers, in reference to the CLT manufacturing facilities, and the wood species mix are important factors in determining the total environmental impacts of the CLT production. Additionally, changing wood species used for lumber from a heavier species such as Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) to a lighter species such as Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) could generate significant reduction in the global warming potential (GWP) of CLT. Given the size and location of the CLT manufacturing facilities, the mills can achieve up to 14% reduction in the overall GWP of the CLT panels by sourcing the lumber locally and using lighter wood species.

Assessing the eco-efficiency of different poultry production systems: an approach using life cycle assessment and economic value added

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 181-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielli Martinelli ◽  
Everton Vogel ◽  
Michel Decian ◽  
Maycon Jorge Ulisses Saraiva Farinha ◽  
Luciana Virginia Mario Bernardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Economic Value Added

How to use lean Six Sigma methodology to improve service process in higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 883-908
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Chad Matthew Laux ◽  
Jiju Antony
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Service Process ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Lessons Learnt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use a practical case study approach to demonstrate the power to use lean Six Sigma (LSS) to improve service process in a higher education institution (HEI). The paper also illustrated the barriers and challenges met and lessons learnt for the LSS adoption in this HEI. Design/methodology/approach Prior to the study, extensive literature review was conducted to understand various aspects of LSS in HE industry. The authors use a single descriptive case study as methodology to explain how DMAIC was applied within a HEI environment. Findings In this LSS case study, the team found HEI service process contains a large human behavior component, which dramatically increases the unpredictability of the entire service delivery process and increases the complexity of the process and the ability of the improvement team to identify the root cause. This case study demonstrates the numerous challenges will occur in working with the intangible factors that are both hard to recognize, quantify and rarely tracked by organization. Practical implications During the research, the pre-award service process was studied, data were recorded and various statistical tool and techniques were used to discover and resolve the root cause. The lessons learnt of the LSS adoption in this service process in HEI and the problems encountered were all recorded in this study, which will be helpful for future research in HEI industry. Originality/value From the literature review, LSS has been widely adopted in manufacturing industry, increased adoption in service, but there has been limited academic research about the implementation in nonprofit, service sectors, particular to higher education industry. The major benefit of implementation LSS in both manufacturing and service is considerable improvement to the bottom line. However, in this HEI case study, it has opened up the direction to implement LSS to better serve your customer as ultimate mission instead of financial gains.

scholarly journals A Cradle to Handover Life Cycle Assessment of External Walls: Choice of Materials and Prognosis of Elements

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Carolina Gámez-García ◽  
José Manuel Gómez-Soberón ◽  
Ramón Corral-Higuera ◽  
Héctor Saldaña-Márquez ◽  
María Consolación Gómez-Soberón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Environmental Behavior ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Process Stage ◽  
Behavior Simulation ◽  
Simulation Equation

This research focuses on a comparison of 20 external wall systems that are conventionally used in Spanish residential buildings, from a perspective based on the product and construction process stages of the life cycle assessment. The primary objective is to provide data that allow knowing the environmental behavior of walls built with materials and practices conventionally. This type of analysis will enable promoting the creation of regulations that encourage the use of combinations of materials that generate the most environmentally suitable result, and in turn, contribute to the strengthening of the embodied stages study of buildings and their elements. The results indicate that the greatest impact arises in the product stage (90.9%), followed by the transport stage (8.9%) and the construction process stage (<1%). Strategies (such as the use of large-format pieces and the controlled increase in thickness of the thermal insulation) can contribute to reducing the environmental impact; on the contrary, practices such as the use of small-format pieces and laminated plasterboard can increase the environmental burden. The prediction of the environmental behavior (simulation equation) allows these possible impacts to be studied in a fast and simplified way.

scholarly journals Integrating Lean Six Sigma and Supply Chain Practices for Improving the Supply Chain Performance

2012 ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Jauhar ◽  
Piyush Tillasi ◽  
Rachana Choudhary
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Statistical Control ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Quality Cost ◽  
Process Improvements ◽  
Organizational Functions ◽  
Product And Process

This paper describes the fusion of Lean and Six Sigma is required to achieve the fastest rate of improvement in quality, cost, delivery and process speed. By combining Lean and Six Sigma it is possible to achieve highly effective improvements in a company’s operations. Six Sigma doesn’t focus on speed. And, Lean cannot bring a process under statistical control. Lean Six Sigma efforts tend to be aligned by organizational functions rather than supply chains. This can result in departmental improvements, but fall short in achieving end to end supply chain improvements. Supply chain management (SCM) is a major issue in many industries as organizations begin to appreciate the criticality of creating an integrated relationship with their suppliers and customers, as well as all other stakeholders. It is concerned with smoothness, economically driven operations and maximizing value for the end customer through quality delivery. Hence, research is undertaken to integrate lean Six Sigma and SCM that will focus on how their integration drives rapid focused product and process improvements which result in controlled, sustainable, and validated improvements to the bottom line.

scholarly journals The Life-Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Life-Cycle Costs of E-Waste Management in Thailand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aweewan Mangmeechai
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Value Added ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Air Conditioners ◽  
Recycling Industry

Abstract There is no clear direction in the management of electrical and electronic waste products (e-waste), as there are no regulations on ways to do so. This research attempts to understand the trade-off between economic value and environmental effects of the current disposal of e-waste to find ways to optimize waste management, focusing on cellphones, television CRTs, desktop computers, and air conditioners. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool that can analyze various influences, e.g., environmental, costs, and value added. Under the e-waste management status quo, most household e-wastes are kept in houses because owners do not know where to discard them. In addition, informal sectors, such as domestic farmers or workers, have been involved actively for more than a decade, leading to poor management standards for both health and the environment. The logistics are inefficient because the dismantling communities and recycling industry are far apart. Most e-waste is generated, and most recycling industries are located, in the Central region (the richest areas), while the dismantling communities are located in the Northeastern region (the poorest areas). Further, LCA and LCC of e-waste are sensitive to transportation, and not all e-waste parts can be recycled within the country. High-tech mineral extraction cannot be practiced in the country, and thus, circuit boards and batteries are exported for recycling. To promote a circular economy, e-waste management regulations should be implemented and a full recycling industry should be established in the country.

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