Manufacturing Systems for Environmental Excellence(<Special Issue>The Environmental Management and Production Systems in the 21th Century)

Abstract

This paper is concerned with possible future direction of manufacturing systems aiming to achieve the environmental excellence. Three aspects of efficient material use are enumerated to decrease resource extraction from the earth, which are rematerialization of wastes, life extension of materials use, and dematerializaion. Then, it is discussed how the aspects are observed in the improvement of manufacturing systems such as industrial symbiosis, 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), and product service system.