A Conceptual Framework for Biointelligent Production—Calling for Systemic Life Cycle Thinking in Cellular Units

Miehe, Robert; Buckreus, Lorena; Kiemel, Steffen; Sauer, Alexander; Bauernhansl, Thomas

doi:10.3390/cleantechnol3040049

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The keywords for the search process resulted from a panel of three experts in the fields of production engineering, business accounting and sustainable engineering, who also reviewed the literature selection. Similar approaches are well documented in the literature [19,20]. The synthesis ofthe results provides the basis for the developed accounting system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 63%

A System Thinking Normative Approach towards Integrating the Environment into Value-Added Accounting—Paving the Way from Carbon to Environmental Neutrality

et al. 2022

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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is increasingly being applied in corporate accounting. Recently, especially carbon footprinting (CF) has been adopted as ‘LCA light’ in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. According to the strategy ‘balance, reduce, substitute, compensate’, the approach is intended to provide the basis for optimization towards climate neutrality. However, two major problems arise: (1) due to the predominant focus on climate neutrality, other decisive life-cycle impact categories are often ignored, resulting in a misrecognition of potential trade-offs, and (2) LCA is not perceived as an equal method alongside cost and value-added accounting in everyday business, as it relies on a fundamentally different system understanding. In this paper, we present basic considerations for merging the business and life-cycle perspectives and introduce a novel accounting system that combines elements of traditional operational value-added accounting, process and material flow analysis as well as LCA. The method is based on an extended system thinking, a set of principles, a calculation system, and external cost factors for the impact categories climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, air pollution, eutrophication and acidification. As a scientifically robust assessment method, the presented approach is intended to be applied in everyday operations in manufacturing companies, providing a foundation for a fundamental change in industrial thought patterns on the way to the total avoidance of negative environmental impacts (i.e., environmental neutrality). Therefore, this is validated in two application examples in the German special tools industry, proving its practicability and reproducibility as well as the suitability of specifically derived indicators for the selective optimization of production systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 63%

A System Thinking Normative Approach towards Integrating the Environment into Value-Added Accounting—Paving the Way from Carbon to Environmental Neutrality

et al. 2022

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“…The results of the literature review were reviewed in relation to previous studies. Similar approaches are well-documented in the literature [32,33]. Figure 1 illustrates the procedure used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 79%

Enzyme-Assisted Circular Additive Manufacturing as an Enabling Technology for a Circular Bioeconomy—A Conceptual Review

Protte-Freitag,

Gotzig,

Rothe

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Additive manufacturing (AM) is a decisive element in the sustainable transformation of technologies. And yet its inherent potential has not been fully utilized. In particular, the use of biological materials represents a comparatively new dimension that is still in the early stages of deployment. In order to be considered sustainable and contribute to the circular economy, various challenges need to be overcome. Here, the literature focusing on sustainable, circular approaches is reviewed. It appears that existing processes are not yet capable of being used as circular economy technologies as they are neither able to process residual and waste materials, nor are the produced products easily biodegradable. Enzymatic approaches, however, appear promising. Based on this, a novel concept called enzyme-assisted circular additive manufacturing was developed. Various process combinations using enzymes along the process chain, starting with the preparation of side streams, through the functionalization of biopolymers to the actual printing process and post-processing, are outlined. Future aspects are discussed, stressing the necessity for AM processes to minimize or avoid the use of chemicals such as solvents or binding agents, the need to save energy through lower process temperatures and thereby reduce CO2 consumption, and the necessity for complete biodegradability of the materials used.

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“…By improving not only the efficiency of the production output but also the consumption of resources, the ultra-efficiency enables a simultaneous increase in eco-efficiency while realizing eco-effectiveness [24][25][26]. Influenced by the emerging potentials of digital and biological transformation [27,28], new methods and opportunities are enabling the future development of the ultra-efficiency factory. Contrary to other approaches, the ultra-efficiency factory reveals existing and emerging conflicting goals in an early stage with the help of its holistic consideration [25].…”

Section: Defining Ultra-efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Principles of Management Systems for Positive Impact Factories

et al. 2022

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The sustainable design of production systems is essential for the industry’s future viability. In this context, the concept of positive impact factories has recently evolved, striving for a completely loss-free factory benefiting positively its surroundings. To establish a holistic view of this approach in everyday corporate life, it is necessary to develop a management policy with defined process flows in the sense of a dedicated management system. This paper thus reviews the scientific literature on (sustainable) management systems and develops a tailored management system for the example of the ultra-efficiency factory. In doing so, we specifically combine and complement established management systems such as environmental, energy and quality management, as well as compliance, maintenance, and lean management. In order to define an applicable framework, the basic considerations presented here were developed in cooperation with and reviewed by a large German automotive supplier. Thereupon, the results are discussed with regard to the future implementation of the system, and starting points for future research are derived.

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A Conceptual Framework for Biointelligent Production—Calling for Systemic Life Cycle Thinking in Cellular Units

Cited by 13 publications

References 44 publications

A System Thinking Normative Approach towards Integrating the Environment into Value-Added Accounting—Paving the Way from Carbon to Environmental Neutrality

A System Thinking Normative Approach towards Integrating the Environment into Value-Added Accounting—Paving the Way from Carbon to Environmental Neutrality

Enzyme-Assisted Circular Additive Manufacturing as an Enabling Technology for a Circular Bioeconomy—A Conceptual Review

Principles of Management Systems for Positive Impact Factories

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