SIMULATION SOFTWARE
THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Steve Morris, country manager (UK & Ireland) at Visual Components, explores the five core areas where simulation software can make a difference to sustainability
be having on the environment, and a clear focus in recent years has been the adoption of renewable sources of energy such as electricity and hydrogen to power operations. There have been huge strides made from manufacturers such as Toyota, who in 2011 installed the UK’s largest Solar PV array connected to an industrial site, with the aim of generating 4,300,000kWh of energy each year. Many manufacturers are also exploring ways of developing existing brownfield land as opposed to building on greenfield sites. As a result, the UK has reduced greenhouse
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gas emissions by 38% between 1990 and 2015, with 20% of electricity now derived from renewable energy, overtaking coal for the first time. Zero waste and circular economy policies have also made an impact in recent years as organisations look to help the UK government’s plan to slash emissions by 79% by 2035. It’s clear that the sustainability agenda is a priority, and the manufacturing industry is looking to harness the right tools to ensure beneficial change. Most of the recorded examples of efforts in
the sustainability space within manufacturing have so far revolved around multinational companies, yet, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) collectively contribute to the sustainability agenda and need to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint, locally and individually. Simulation software can help play a pivotal
role in sustainability for both multinationals and SMEs, but many in the manufacturing industry may not be aware of the core areas in which it can make a difference. Below are the five key focuses for manufacturers: 1. Efficiency:One key aspect of ensuring
sustainable practices is more efficient and smarter methods in which to produce goods.
48 SEPTEMBER 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
ompanies across manufacturing sectors are increasingly striving to reduce any negative impact they may
Simulation software enables a long-term
understanding of sustainability for professionals pursuing a career in the manufacturing space, and helps to bridge the skills gap
Simulation software can help organisations achieve efficiency gains in their production processes by allowing smaller changes on the shop floor to be tested from an early stage. The by-product of ensuring efficient practices is ultimately more sustainable strategies. 2. Waste: The second core strength of
simulation software is its ability to reduce waste via lean manufacturing methods. This applies to the production process by designing process flows that encourage the re-use of (raw) materials, but also covers productivity losses, work ergonomics, excessive transport paths of AGVs, forklifts, humans and other aspects. In reducing functional floor space, lean manufacturing helps lessen an organisation’s carbon footprint. The creation of new simulation models at UK universities enable damaged or faulty goods to be recycled, ensuring that they are reused in the production line. 3. Design: Simulation software can help
organisations to optimise their factory designs, whether it be floor space or production or process flows. Many manufacturers may not be aware of the energy saving benefits of making small changes to ensure floor space is used in a more efficient way. The software also enables the creation of smart factories on existing brownfield land, ensuring less greenfield space is used. As more smart factories are built, this further supports the development of digitisation as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 4. Packaging: With the war on plastics a key
element of sustainability, organisations are increasingly looking for ways of ensuring
environmentally-friendly packaging materials are used in the manufacturing process. When it comes to packaging, much of the cost comes from expensive product trials and inefficiencies. Simulation software can be used by packaging and palletising organisations to test different materials, achieve efficiency gains and use less plastics. 5. Supply chain resilience: Lastly, simulation
software can be used to develop a resilient supply chain, helping simulate elements of the wider chain to ensure that more transparent processes are applied to the real environment. This ensures that manufacturers can future- proof operations both on the shop floor and in their supply and delivery processes. With simulation software able to make an
impact on the sustainability agenda in several ways, its ability to make a tangible difference in the future will also be pertinent as the need to protect the environment and the battle against climate change becomes more urgent. One such way that this is happening is through trade associations utilising the software to increase understanding of sustainability and communicating this to the industry. This will prove particularly beneficial to smaller organisations who are members of these associations and need assistance when it comes to devising an effective strategy in the absence of having a chief sustainability officer in place. Simulation software is now also used in
academia and research, and is playing its role in training the engineers of tomorrow.
Visual Components
www.visualcomponents.com
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