Centre for Industrial Sustainability Academic Webinars
Eco-intelligent process monitoring
with Dr Elliot Woolley, Dr Alessandro Simeone and Nick Goffin, Centre for SMART, Loughborough University
Abstract:This webinar demonstrate the role that sensing technologies can play in providing real time data to improve environmentally-aware short term decision making. The talk is in three parts: 1) A general overview of eco-intelligent manufacturing, and its widespread applicability to industry; 2) The novel use of vision sensors for reducing the duration of clean-in-place processes (relating to the food sector); 3) The novel use of laser diffraction for ensuring optimised production of thin film solar cells. The webinar therefore cover a mixture of theory and experimental investigation which should be thought provoking and lead to an engaged discussion regarding the role of eco-intelligent manufacturing in modern industry.
Listen to the Webinar here (39 min)
Webinar Slides
Ubiquitous Sustainability: Embedding Sustainability Throughout Product Design Processes
with Leila Sheldrick, Centre for SMART, Loughborough University
Abstract: Application of sustainable design is growing rapidly as companies face increasing pressure to address the environmental impacts of their products. In response, a great deal of research has been directed at the development of sustainable design methods, as early design intervention has the potential to generate radical improvements. At present however, sustainability is often considered as an afterthought, only yielding incremental improvements. As such there is a clear need to redesign our design processes, and promote embedded consideration of sustainability throughout from the earliest stages.
This webinar presents research investigating how sustainability considerations could be systematically incorporated into product design processes. The project developed a framework to help companies gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the implementation of sustainable design in their own business through a systematic investigative method described in the webinar. By using this framework a company can identify targeted and customised opportunities for improvement of sustainable design, expand understanding of their processes and products, and evolve towards a situation in the future where sustainability considerations are an embedded part of their design process -towards 'Ubiquitous Sustainability' in design.
Listen to the Webinar here
Webinar Slides
Understanding the root causes of changeover impacts and targeting for environmental and economic gains
with Ergun Gungor, IfM, Cambridge University
Listen to the Webinar here (46min 57sec)
Sustainable value creation in manufacturing: Understanding the contribution of maintenance function
with Dr Maria Holgado, University of Cambridge
Abstract: Due to the increasing demands for integrating sustainability within business, manufacturing firms are paying more attention to improve their performance in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. Several authors have hinted the importance of maintenance to achieve more sustainable performance but no comprehensive empirical study has been done yet. This research contributes to the understanding on how maintenance can support the achievement of more sustainable performance in manufacturing industry.
Listen to the webinar here (51min 9sec)
Webinar Slides
Resource Efficient Manufacturing: An Exergy Based Approach
with Sanober Khattak, De Montfort University
Abstract: In the current global climate of declining fossil fuel reserves and due to the impact of industry on the natural environment, industrial sustainability is becoming ever more important. However, sustainability is quite a vague concept for many, and there are a range of interpretations of the word. If the resource efficiency of a factory is taken as a measure of its sustainability, then the concept becomes better defined and quantifiable. In order to analyse the resource efficiency of a factory and suggest improvements, all flows through the manufacturing system need to be modelled. However the factory is a complex environment, there is a wide variation in the quality levels of energy as well as the composition of material flows in the system. The research presented in this webinar aims to show how the thermodynamics-based concept of 'exergy' can be used to quantify the resource efficiency of a factory. This is supported by three case studies in different industries that demonstrate the practical application of exergy analysis.
Communication appeals for influencing pro-environmental behaviour change
with Zoe Rowe, C4D, Cranfield University
Abstract: Little research has addressed the impact of marketing communication messages on consumers' pro-environmental behaviours, especially when it comes to actual behaviour rather than just attitudes or intentions, therefore this research is concerned with identifying which marketing communication interventions and mechanisms can influence pro-environmental behaviour change outcomes across different contextual factors.
Listen to the webinar here (30 min 28 sec)
Webinar Slides
Resource Efficienct Manufacturing Grand Challenge: Optimisation, Rationalisation and Resilience Tools
with Dr James Colwill from the Centre for SMART, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University
Abstract: Dr Colwill discusses the optimisation and rationalisation work coming from the material flow modelling tool being developed by Dr Oliver Gould and Liam Gardner's research on manufacturing resilience strategies for critical material use.
Listen to the webinar here (50min 27 sec)
Webinar Slides
Eco-efficiency: New understanding and emerging tools
with Dr Peter Ball, Aanand Davé, and Simon Roberts of Cranfied Univeristy and Dr Mélanie Despeisse of the University of Cambridge
Abstract: Dr Mélanie Despeisse presents an overview of the groups work on eco-efficiency followed by details of the advances from PhD researcher Aanand Davé.
