How to Achieve Sustainable Production?

Sustainability is an ever-growing necessity in all industries, including manufacturing. Before determining how to achieve sustainable production in a manufacturing environment, we need to ask:

What is sustainable production?

Sustainable production is an approach that integrates advanced technology and innovative practices to meet today’s needs without compromising future generations. It optimizes efficiency, enhances resource management, and minimizes environmental impact through intelligent design and execution. By leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions, sustainable production transforms traditional manufacturing processes by increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and conserving energy, pushing industries toward a more resilient and eco-friendly future.

Now that we’ve defined Sustainable Production, let’s discuss how to make it a reality in your production facility.

The Evolving Role of MES/MOM in Achieving Sustainability

MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management) are often overlooked when discussing sustainability, yet they are integral to embedding sustainability throughout the entire manufacturing lifecycle and beyond. Before getting into details, let’s differentiate MES from MOM:

• MES is focused primarily on direct production activities. These include providing work instructions, collecting traceability data, connecting shop floor equipment used in production, etc.
• MOM includes MES but also offers a broad framework covering quality management, material synchronization, labor tracking, and machine maintenance, including energy efficiency.

For the remainder of this discussion, we’ll refer to MOM due to its broader capabilities. MOM solutions create a robust approach to sustainability by enabling companies to integrate critical environmental considerations, such as carbon footprint management and waste reduction, into their overall manufacturing sustainability strategy. By incorporating sustainability initiatives within manufacturing operations, MOM solutions drive operational efficiencies, reduce the carbon footprint, and ensure sustainable practices from raw material sourcing to product distribution​.

MOM solutions provide several key capabilities that support sustainable production by enabling manufacturers to:

• Minimize and control GHG Emissions: MOM plays a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by integrating advanced technologies and data analytics to monitor, optimize, and minimize energy usage and emissions across manufacturing processes. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, MOM enables businesses to identify inefficiencies, implement sustainable practices, and track progress toward emission reduction goals. A notable example is where the implementation of smart energy monitoring solutions led to a measurable decrease in GHG emissions, showcasing the tangible benefits of innovative practices. Looking ahead, emerging trends in AI-driven analytics, IoT-enabled monitoring, and regulatory pressures are set to further position MOM as key to achieving more comprehensive GHG reconciliation, reinforcing its importance for manufacturers aiming to align with environmental sustainability and business efficiency goals.
• Track Sustainability Metrics in Real Time: Integration of IIoT and advanced analytics allows real-time monitoring of energy usage, carbon emissions, and material waste, enabling quick operational adjustments to meet sustainability goals.

• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: An effective MOM solution can streamline sustainability reporting, helping manufacturers comply with evolving environmental regulations by tracking key metrics like carbon footprints, energy efficiency, and material usage.

• Ensure Closed-Loop Production: A fully functional MOM solution supports closed-loop production by optimizing waste reduction (through reduced scrap and rework), material reuse, and energy consumption, reducing the environmental footprint throughout the product lifecycle.

• Leverage Predictive Maintenance: By monitoring equipment and supply chain infrastructure performance, predictive maintenance capabilities help avoid equipment failures that could increase energy consumption and resource waste.

• Monitor Environmental Impact Holistically: A comprehensive MOM solution provides an extensive view of energy use, emissions, and resource consumption across the entire production process, helping businesses make better-informed sustainability decisions.

• Drive Proactive Sustainability Improvements: Predictive algorithms and real-time data can help companies proactively identify inefficiencies and optimize resources, driving continuous improvements in sustainability efforts.

• Support Continuous Improvement through Data-Driven Insights: Continuous, real-time monitoring enables manufacturers to track trends, refine operations, and improve efficiency to reduce their carbon footprint over time.

• Enable Circular Economy Initiatives: MOM solutions can support the circular economy by tracking material flow, promoting recycling and reuse of resources, and enabling manufacturers to reduce waste and environmental impact.

1. Increase Resource Efficiency: By optimizing the use of raw materials, manpower, equipment, and energy throughout the production process, MOM solutions enhance resource efficiency helping companies reduce waste and costs.

Conclusion: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Future

Sustainability in manufacturing is no longer a peripheral consideration but a core strategic priority for businesses aiming to stay competitive and resilient in today’s market. As manufacturers face increasing pressure to align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, technologies like Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) become essential enablers for sustainable operations.

DELMIA’s solutions offer a unique blend of features that enable businesses to not only improve operational efficiency but also minimize their environmental footprint. By leveraging real-time data, predictive analytics, and virtual twin technology, companies can make informed decisions that optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions. Furthermore, DELMIA’s Simulation and Supply Chain capabilities extend beyond MOM, providing the ability to simulate and plan for different scenarios, enabling manufacturers to anticipate disruptions and maintain sustainable practices even during volatile market conditions​​.

The growing importance of technologies like AI, IIOT, and connected applications within MOM also plays a pivotal role in helping businesses streamline their processes and integrate sustainability initiatives. These innovations provide manufacturers with the ability to collect actionable insights, optimize quality control, and reduce operational costs—all while adhering to sustainable standards​​.

Incorporating MOM into the sustainability framework does more than just mitigate risks; it enhances a company’s brand reputation, operational agility, and long-term profitability. As consumer demand shifts towards more environmentally conscious products and services, businesses that embrace these technologies and practices are well-positioned to lead their industries in both innovation and sustainability.

In conclusion, the integration of DELMIA’s advanced MOM solutions is not just about improving productivity—it’s about building a future where manufacturing excellence and sustainability go hand in hand. By investing in these technologies, manufacturers can meet the growing challenges of today’s global market while driving long-term sustainable growth​​.

Read about the authors in their collaborative efforts in “How to Achieve Sustainable Production.”