Promote green manufacturing design technology: Lucas-TVS Ravichandran
The 29th National Convention of Production Engineers and the National Seminar on ‘‘Green Manufacturing Strategies’’ was recently organised in Chennai by the Institution of Engineers (India) under the aegis of the Production Engineering Division.
Mr. T.M. Gunaraja, Chairman of the Centre, welcomed the gathering, and Dr. C.K.B. Nair, Convener, elaborated the theme convention.
Prof. D.R. Kiran, Organising Secretary, highlighted various topical issues selected for the seminar.
Dr. N. Ravichandran, Executive Director, Lucas-TVS Ltd., who was the chief guest on the occasion, stressed the significance of green manufacturing of waste and inventory reduction, as well as just-in-time strategy. He also spoke about world class manufacturing to achieve green manufacturing.
Green manufacturing in industries minimises waste and pollution, slows depletion of natural resources and reduces the amount of trash that enters the landfill. It helps in reducing parts, rationalizing materials and reusing components to make products more efficient. This concept involves not just the use of environmental design of the product and environment-friendly raw materials, but also eco-friendly packing, distribution and disposal of waste after the lifetime of the product.
The major obstacles faced by manufacturing units in achieving green manufacturing are the influence of price of raw materials, lack of information as well as training programs.
Today, we see customers who are conscious of the environment in which they live. Protecting it is the top-most priority for most of them. They strongly feel that energy crisis, increased global warming, depletion of the ozone layer and deforestation for industrial purposes necessitate green manufacturing. Governments, on their path, should necessarily strengthen e-waste management through restriction of hazardous substances (ROHS), waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), etc., promote green manufacturing design technology and educate the public on e-waste problems. Sustainable development is possible only with economic, social and environmental development.