Sustainable development and sustainability notions are among trending topics of twenty-first century. Elevated sustainability concerns of various stakeholders have been forcing members of all ...industries to evolve into their more environmentally and socially responsible versions. However, a complete framework with a true sustainability and benchmarking focus is yet to be delivered. Within this study, an innovative, holistic, versatile and scalable tool was developed to assess and benchmark sustainability performance of organizations and supply chains. The proposed framework was established upon trivet structure of triple bottom line philosophy and fueled by lean, Six Sigma and life cycle analysis methodologies for accurate and effective measurement of sustainability performance. Completeness of the framework was ensured through development of first-generation key performance indicator pool with 33 indicators, a unique work environment assessment mechanism for safety and environmental protection issues in terms of 11 risk categories and by construction of an ownership structure for ease of framework deployment. Proposed framework is expected to help with true sustainability performance improvement and benchmarking objectives at a range of business levels from facility to sectoral operations. Both small- and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations could benefit from SBT Framework since it eliminates unit-based comparisons within its standardized performance measurement modules. Industries with lower profit margins could also gain competitive edge through continuous discovery of improvement opportunities. Furthermore, some manufacturing industries with unique characteristics such as wood products industries with their carbon sequestration potential and electric car manufacturers with their renewable energy-dependent final products could document their strengths more effectively through this science-based assessment mechanism.
Indoor air quality has become a more prominent concern since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Manufacturing industries have always been prone to occupational health risks, which depend on the ...dynamics of the production shop floors. The furniture industry is one of these sectors with a unique work environment. Although a typical furniture manufacturing facility involves physical, chemical, and noise pollution-producing elements, this industry has been studied relatively less for indoor air quality and noise-related risks. This study investigated nine furniture manufacturing organizations’ indoor air quality and noise pollution levels through comprehensive quantitative techniques. The results of the measurements were compared against reference values set by specific guidelines to explore the degree of occupational health risk associated with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) suggested levels. Repetitive measurements from five pre-designated workstations were taken at each facility. The study’s results indicated that organization size and department were significant factors for PM 2.5 and HCHO parameters, while only department type was substantial for noise exposure levels. However, across all departments and organization sizes, LAeq noise levels were below the safety threshold of 85 dB(A). Most organizations presented a lack of proper use of personal protective equipment and poor ventilation across shop floors.
The study aimed to increase the screw withdrawal strength of medium density fiberboard and particleboard used in furniture strength by using epoxy resin in the screw pilot hole. Therefore, the ...effects of pilot hole diameters, screw diameter, and amount of epoxy resin on screw withdrawal strength of medium density fiberboard and particleboard from face and edge were investigated. According to TS EN 13446, 50 mm × 50 mm specimens were cut from commercial medium density fiberboard and particleboard boards. A static load was applied parallel to the screw direction. The screw withdrawal strength of medium density fiberboard was higher than the screw withdrawal strength of particleboard because of its density. Besides, the screw withdrawal strength of medium density fiberboard and particleboard samples with a 3.5 mm screw diameter was higher compared to those with a 4.5 mm screw diameter. A decrease in pilot hole diameter and an increase in the amount of epoxy resin provided higher screw withdrawal strength of materials. Using 20 % epoxy resin of the volume of the pilot hole resulted in two times better screw withdrawal strength values. The study showed that a higher amount of epoxy resin, smaller pilot hole diameter, and smaller screw diameter contribute to better screw withdrawal strength of both medium density fiberboard and particleboard from the face and edge.
Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je povećati izvlačnu silu vijka u ploča vlaknatica i iverica koje se rabe u proizvodnji namještaja, i to upotrebom epoksidne smole u pilot-rupama za vijke. Stoga je ispitan utjecaj promjera pilot-rupa, promjera vijka i količine epoksidne smole na izvlačnu silu vijka na plohi i rubu ploče vlaknatice i iverice. Uzorci dimenzija 50 mm × 50 mm prema TS EN 13446 izrađeni su od komercijalne srednje guste ploče vlaknatice i ploče iverice. Statičko opterećenje djelovalo je paralelno na smjer vijka. Zbog razlika u gustoći ploča izvlačna sila vijka bila je veća za srednje gustu ploču vlaknaticu nego za ploču ivericu. Osim toga, izvlačna sila vijka promjera 3,5 mm u srednje gustoj ploči vlaknatici i ploči iverici bila je veća od izvlačne sile vijka promjera 4,5 mm. Smanjenje promjera pilot-rupe i povećanje količine epoksidne smole omogućilo je veću otpornost materijala na izvlačenje vijaka. Upotrebom 20 % epoksidne smole u odnosu prema volumenu pilot-rupe rezultiralo je dvostruko boljim vrijednostima izvlačne sile vijka. Istraživanje je pokazalo da veća količina epoksidne smole, manji promjer pilot-rupe i manji promjer vijka pridonose boljoj izvlačnoj sili vijka na plohi i rubu srednje guste ploče vlaknatice i ploče iverice.
In this study, the efficiency of waste melamine impregnated paper (WMIP) as an adhesive; effects of WMIP usage with different sizes and amounts as a resin in three-layer particleboard manufacturing ...on mechanical, physical, surface roughness properties and formaldehyde emission values were investigated. Three-layer particleboards were manufactured with three different sizes (small, medium and large) and four different rates (10, 15, 20, 25% of total board weight) of WMIP. Mechanical (bending strength, modulus of elasticity, internal bond strength, surface soundness, screw withdrawal strength), physical (density, thickness swelling, water absorption, Brinell hardness, and surface roughness) properties and formaldehyde contents of the samples were determined according to relevant standards. As a result of the study, it was determined that WMIP still has some uncured adhesive with curing ability in it. The size and amount of WMIP had a statistically significant effect on the particleboard properties (Mechanical, Physical Formaldehyde emission and surface roughness). While the mechanical and physical properties improved as the amount of WMIP increased, these values deteriorated as the size of the WMIP increased. The best mechanical and physical results were obtained by using small-size WMIP at the rate of 25% and all the panel groups produced with small-size WMIP (except 10% ratio) have achieved the mechanical values required in the standard. In all particleboard groups produced, only the one with 25% of the small-size WMIP used group was provided with the standard requirements for thickness swelling properties. For optimal performance (the least rough surface characteristics), the formulation of the panels should contain small WMIP sizes and a 20% WMIP ratio. The findings also showed that increasing the WMIP ratio has resulted in better mechanical properties. Through this study, some technological properties of three-layer particleboard produced with WMIPs were determined and potential utilization of WMIPs in particleboard manufacturing as an adhesive was demonstrated.
•Characterization of Particleboard produced with only WMIP as an adhesive was determined.•WMIP still has some uncured adhesive with curing ability in it.•The mechanical, physical, and surface roughness properties improved as the amount of WMIP increased.•The mechanical, physical, and surface roughness values deteriorated as the size of the WMIP increased.•For the least rough surface characteristics, the recipe of the panels should contain small WMIP sizes and a 20% WMIP ratio.•The findings also showed that increasing WMIP ratio has resulted in better mechanical properties..
Higher education institutions are among the most influential elements of implementing concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. Manufacturing industries of all sorts are key ...stakeholders, which rely on universities to satisfy the demand for competent workforce. Society also expects universities to educate our youth and contribute to their self-development by achieving both, scientific and intellectual knowledge saturation. Among all these missions, today, universities are trying to develop sustainability curriculums to further increase sustainability awareness and to provide undergraduate students with a toolkit that would provide them with a competitive advantage in the job market. Developing such a curriculum would only be possible with a transdisciplinary approach. Therefore, the objective of this study was to contribute to strategic alignment of higher education institutions and corporate organizations by developing a course curriculum that integrates modern management techniques and sustainability concepts with wood products industry dynamics, which also focuses on project based learning (PBL). Theories of sustainability, lean management, supply chain management, six-sigma, and life cycle analysis were reinforced with hands-on activities of value-added wood product manufacturing line during a 16-weeks course. Students’ pre- and post-education awareness of and familiarity with sustainability, potential consequences of ignored sustainability issues, modern management techniques, global trends, innovation waves, and industry evolution were compared through a seventeen-question survey. Results showed that proposed course content was successful at increasing sustainability awareness at both overall and individual sustainability pillar levels. At the end, 100% of students were able to develop complete understanding of various modern management techniques and stated that they feel confident to apply learnt skills to real life issues within their profession upon graduation. The outcomes of the study could serve as a guide for those looking to develop similar inter- or trans-disciplinary courses at higher education institutions.
•College students are not fully aware of sustainability and its pillars.•A transdisciplinary approach was effective to increase sustainability awareness in students.•Modern management techniques could be a key part of sustainability curriculum.•Strategic alignment of higher education and businesses are possible.•Hands-on activities were a key component for developing job-ready skills.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the surface quality of experimentally manufactured wood plastic composite (WPC) samples exposed to water soaking. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana ...L.), which is one of the invasive species in Oklahoma, USA, and recycled plastic were used to manufacture WPC samples. Three types of samples, namely with 0%, 3% and 6% nano-clay were soaked in water for up to one month. Stylus-type equipment was employed to evaluate their surface roughness as a function of water exposure. Two accepted roughness parameters, average roughness (Ra) and mean peak-to-valley (Rz), were used to determine changes in the surface quality of the specimens due to water exposure. Average roughness values of 1.5 µm and 4.1 µm were determined for the samples with no clay in dry conditions and those soaked for one month in water, respectively. Corresponding values were lower in the case of those with clay in their content. Based on the findings in this work, it appears that the stylus technique can be successfully applied to such samples to quantitatively evaluate their surface quality when they are exposed to water for an extended time span. It is expected that data from this work could help to produce a better understanding of the behavior of WPCs under environmental conditions.
Impact of inventory leanness on financial performance has been well-documented by scientific community for various industries. However, its application in value-added wood products industry is ...relatively scarce when compared to other industry segments. The objective of the study was to investigate impact of increased inventory leanness on financial performance of a value-added wood products manufacturer. Outcomes of the study was also expected to contribute to the intersection zone of three research streams, namely Lean Inventory Management, Procurement Lot-Sizing and Demand Forecasting. To achieve stated objectives, research question and hypotheses were constructed around an un-capacitated single item raw material lot-sizing problem in the context of an SME. A six-step systematic optimization approach (SOA) was developed and followed to improve cost efficiency throughout the study. Time series and Regression based demand forecasting coupled with Dynamic and Statistical lot-sizing models to derive the optimal solution to the problem. At the end of exhaustive simulations, an optimized procurement strategy that could achieve 32.87%–60.90% raw material inventory management cost savings depending on desired buffer level was proposed. Consequently, increased inventory leanness led to less costly procurement activities within target supply chain, which indicated enhanced overall financial performance of the firm through proper risk management and mitigation.
•Value-added wood products industry could benefit from leaner inventory structure.•Increased inventory leanness led up to 60.90% cost efficient procurement activities.•Optimal customer service was achieved with significantly less inventory investment.•Casual forecasting was a better fit for demand pattern of target industry segment.•Weekly Ordering Policy outperformed other dynamic and statistical lot-sizing models.
This study aimed to enhance the physical properties and the weak heat transmission of the core layer, which are the weak points of particleboard produced using melamine-impregnated paper waste (MIPW) ...as an adhesive. Alkyl-ketene dimer (AKD) and paraffin were used as water-repellent chemicals. MIPW was used as an adhesive, and no additional resin was used. As a result of this study, the samples' physical properties improved with AKD and paraffin's existence. Moreover, it has been approved that AKD is more effective than paraffin in improving the physical properties of the particleboard because AKD improves ester bonding with hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers. The usage of water repellents resulted in the improvement of internal bond (IB) properties. It was determined that the type and amount of water-repellent chemicals significantly affected the mechanical and physical properties and formaldehyde content of the produced particleboards, except for bending properties. Just the chemical type was found to be significantly effective on bending strength (BS) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) properties. Overall, the study findings suggested that AKD might be successfully utilized as a water-repellent chemical in particleboard manufacturing, while MIPWs used as an adhesive.
Global trends and factors, such as the increased level of globalization, climate change, resource scarcity, and awareness of social and environmental responsibilities, as well as fiercer competition ...and lower profit margins in all industries, force organizations to act to retain, regain, or sustain their competitive advantages for long-term survival. These trends and factors are historically known to bring about innovations that drive the evolution of industries. Sustainability is considered to be such an innovation to achieve fiscally sound, environmentally conscious, and socially progressive organizations and supply chains. This study reviewed 477 past articles published in five major databases from 1990 to 2018. The purpose of the study was to assess the current state-of-the art in the subject of lean-driven sustainability. Based on the exhaustive descriptive and contextual analysis, synergies, divergences, and the extent of two-way permeability of lean and sustainability concepts from the perspective of intra- and inter-organizational operations were identified along with future research opportunities. Fundamental strengths and weaknesses of both concepts, existing strong synergies and untapped potential, along with their key contributors, the potential-use cases of lean tools to derive sustainable solutions are highlighted in this review.
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.
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