(4) Findings through MFCA analysis
- Nippon Sangyo Shizai
All mill ends were recycled internally.
Although it appeared that no material losses were generated because of the recycling practice,
energy and personnel costs etc.
for the formation and crushing of these mill ends were input to these losses and these associated costs were carried over from the previous production cycle.
These costs were considered losses.
- Panasonic Ecology Systems
While selling material waste as valuable resources was considered to be reasonable,
it was found that the selling price was extremely small compared to the production costs for this material waste (material loss costs);
only 2% of the production costs were recovered from this practice.
(5) Targeted points to be improved or improvements based on MFCA analysis
- Nippon Sangyo Shizai
As gaps were identified between forming width and delivered product width, the minimum forming width required to guarantee thickness will be sought. In addition, purge losses were identified when materials were initially input at the time of the process changeover. Also, losses from final sheet scrap material were identified. The process-changeover practice will be re-considered, and reduction of material loss will be promoted.
- Panasonic Ecology Systems
As divergence existed between material width and product width, the edge space will be reduced by 10mm. In addition, as material losses were identified from trimming, minimization of the divergence between the mold and cavity will be promoted. Further, as there was loss in the feed direction, minimization of feed and placement of the positioning boss will be considered.
- Issues undertaken in cooperation by both companies
It was found that mill ends produced at Panasonic Ecology Systems could be re-input in the processes at Nippon Sangyo Shizai through re-pelletizing, which was also quite cost-effective. It was also found that the quality of scrap materials generated at the end of the sheet forming process were good enough to be input in the processes at Panasonic Ecology Systems; review of the processing company for waste material re-pelletizing, physical distribution, and commercial distribution will be conducted to establish a closed material recycling cycle.
(6) Conclusion
As a result of discussion by both companies, reduction of borders was considered. Test processing found that the standard width dimensions could be made 10 mm smaller. In addition, Panasonic Ecology Systems modified the vacuum forming mold and succeeded in making the dimensions in both the cross direction and feed direction 10 mm smaller. The purchase cost of the scrap materials was adjusted etc., and its deliveries were started.
Owing to these measures, mill ends which used to be an output to the recycling market was diminished. Amount of the virgin material input at Nippon Sangyo Shizai became equivalent to amount of the product at Panasonic Ecology Systems. In particular, the forming load at Nippon Sangyo Shizai was significantly decreased.
Although it used to be vaguely assumed that adequate streamlining of this process had already been conducted, it was found through implementation of MFCA that there was in fact much room for improvement. In particular, by conducting an analysis of the entire supply chain, large areas for improvement in the supply chain were revealed.
Reference, 1. www.jmac.co.jp/mfca/.../data/MFCA_Case_example_e.pdf