ABSTRACT

Nowadays achieving sustainable development is a global concern. Economic and environmental sustainability can be driven by assessing and improving industrial production system’s performance. An evaluation that assesses if materials, energy and resources are used to their full potential is a powerful tool for improving economic and environmental performance, and consequently supports the identification of all types of waste and inefficiencies along the production system. The goal of this work is to assess overall production system’s efficiency and eco-efficiency using Multi Layer Stream Mapping (MSM). The outputs of this approach is used to scrutinize “where” and “how much” can a unit process and/or a production system improve its financial, environmental and overall efficiency, thereby being of great importance for decision-making and correct implementation of improvement actions. This paper highlights the results from the application of the MSM methodology in a real industrial case regarding a painting unit.