Chapter 1
Decarbonization is becoming a key theme in supply chains.
Many companies are involved in the process of creating a single product, including raw material manufacturers, component manufacturers, processing companies, assembly companies, and logistics companies.
Therefore, it is necessary to consider the environmental load not only from the perspective of the companies that manufacture the products, but also from the perspective of those upstream and downstream in the supply chain.
Decarbonization in manufacturing is not an initiative that can be completed by a single company, but rather a topic that needs to be considered throughout the entire supply chain.
However, the same methods and reduction targets do not necessarily apply directly to every company.
Understanding where energy is used in your company's process and preparing information that you can explain is the starting point.
Chapter 2
What kind of information do our business partners request?
When we move forward with decarbonization efforts, we're not just asked, "What are you doing?"
Depending on the company or industry, various environmental information may be shared, such as energy consumption, CO2 emissions, reduction activities, targets, and achievements.
| Information | Way of thinking |
|---|---|
| Energy consumption | How much electricity, gas, etc. are being used? |
| CO2 emissions | Determine emissions using a prescribed method. |
| Reduction activities | What improvements are being made? |
| Achievements | What has changed as a result of the improvements? |
| Future plans | What are you planning to improve next? |
When asked for this kind of information, simply saying "We are environmentally conscious" is not enough to share specific details.
Chapter 3
Simply saying "We are environmentally conscious" is not enough.
To effectively communicate a company's environmental initiatives, it's crucial to explain not only the initiatives themselves, but also their background and results.
What improvements were made?
For example, if you review the insulation of equipment, it is important to be able to explain what improvements were made and why those improvements were made.
How has it changed compared to before the improvement?
If we can compare energy consumption and equipment status before and after the improvements, we can explain the initiatives in more detail.
Is it possible to balance quality with other factors?
In manufacturing, simply reducing energy consumption is meaningless if quality cannot be maintained.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand how both energy reduction and quality maintenance were ensured.
Chapter 4
Measurement data becomes "explaining power".
The data accumulated at the manufacturing site supports everything we've discussed so far.
By measuring temperature and energy levels and recording their changes over time, you can compare the differences before and after improvements.
Category
Measure
We will try to understand the temperature and equipment status as objectively as possible.
Record
Record
This saves changes over time so that they can be reviewed later.
Compare
compare
We will compare the before and after of the improvement, as well as the differences in conditions.
Explain
explain
We will share what improvements were made and what changes occurred, along with the supporting evidence.
Of course, it's not possible to evaluate the overall environmental load based on a single measurement data point.
The important thing is to clearly define "which data to use and for what purpose."
Chapter 5
Transforming decarbonization from a defensive measure into a force for improvement.
If we only consider decarbonization measures as something we do because our business partners tell us to, the scope of improvement will be limited.
Review your company's process, understand how energy is being used, and make improvements based on data.
These initiatives can lead not only to decarbonization, but also to improved quality, equipment improvements, and increased productivity.
| environment | Reviewing energy and CO2 emissions |
|---|---|
| quality | Understanding process status leads to stable manufacturing. |
| equipment | Understand changes in heat and equipment conditions, and identify areas for improvement. |
| management | Explain the improvements using numbers and records. |
The decarbonization initiative prompts us to re-examine "how energy is being used in our own factories."
The resulting understanding of their own process becomes a significant advantage for the manufacturing site.
Next episode
So, where should we actually begin?
Up to this point, we have looked at several perspectives when considering decarbonization: "heat," "quality," "data," and "explanation."
So, where should a factory actually begin?
In Episode 6, we'll explore concrete ways to implement energy conservation, focusing on measuring the current situation, understanding the state of affairs, prioritizing improvements, and then making those improvements, rather than immediately considering large capital investments.
Series
Factory decarbonization series
Episodes 1 to 3
Episodes 4 to 6
- Episode 4: The Balance Between Quality and Energy Saving
- Episode 5: Low Carbon is a New Brand Value
- Episode 6: Energy-Saving Measures That Won't Fail
Previous / Next
Continue reading the series
In episode 4, we considered temperature measurement and control to save energy while maintaining quality.
In episode 6, we'll finally consider specifically "where to begin."
