When considering resource-efficiency potential in companies, the focus is on two areas: the company-specific core manufacturing processes, and the infrastructure that surrounds and enables these core processes. This production infrastructure includes, for example, the factory building, heating technology, refrigeration technology, compressed air or storage. Besides the core processes, these areas offer great potential for saving material and energy.
Against this backdrop, the VDI Centre for Resource Efficiency (VDI ZRE) has also added further topics to the existing information on offer for production infrastructure: in future, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also be able to identify on an interactive graphical overview efficiency potential on production data acquisition, laboratories and pilot plants, prototype construction, test benches, waste management, recycling and tool management. The tool on VDI ZRE’s website indicates the potential for resource optimisation for all companies in the manufacturing sector, regardless of the specific production process.
Furthermore, the VDI ZRE has also continued developing its existing resource check for production infrastructure in order to check the actual status in a company’s operation quickly and simply: it comprises a questionnaire on the production processes and modular checklists. The checklists include methods, tools and measures that give pointers on process optimisation. The resource-efficiency potential is assessed according to the traffic light principle.