scholarly journals A Conceptual Framework for Biointelligent Production—Calling for Systemic Life Cycle Thinking in Cellular Units

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-857
Author(s):  
Robert Miehe ◽  
Lorena Buckreus ◽  
Steffen Kiemel ◽  
Alexander Sauer ◽  
Thomas Bauernhansl
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Future Viability ◽  
Normative Logic

A sustainable design of production systems is essential for the future viability of the economy. In this context, biointelligent production systems (BIS) are currently considered one of the most innovative paths for a comprehensive reorientation of existing industrial patterns. BIS are intended to enable a highly localized on-demand production of personalized goods via stand-alone non-expert systems. Recent studies in this field have primarily adopted a technical perspective; this paper addresses the larger picture by discussing the essential issues of integrated production system design. Following a normative logic, we introduce the basic principle of systemic life cycle thinking in cellular units as the foundation of a management framework for BIS. Thereupon, we develop a coherent theoretical model of a future decentralized production system and derive perspectives for future research and development in key areas of management.

scholarly journals Branching features of apple cultivars in integrated and organic production technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dremák ◽  
Á. Csihon ◽  
I. Gonda
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Production Technology ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Production

In our study, vegetative characteristics of 39 apple cultivars were evaluated in environmentally friendly production systems. Numbers of the branches of the central leader in different high zones were shown. According to our results, number of the branches of the axis was probably larger in the integrated production system, compared to the organic one, which is related to the conditional status of the trees. Based on our experiences training and maintaining canopies in integrated system was easier, as relative more extensive canopies were needed in organic farming.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Valuation of Biochar Production: Two Case Studies in Belgium

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Rajabi Hamedani ◽  
Tom Kuppens ◽  
Robert Malina ◽  
Enrico Bocci ◽  
Andrea Colantoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Pig Manure ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
The Impact

It is unclear whether the production of biochar is economically feasible. As a consequence, firms do not often invest in biochar production plants. However, biochar production and application might be desirable from a societal perspective as it might entail net environmental benefits. Hence, the aim of this work has been to assess and monetize the environmental impacts of biochar production systems so that the environmental aspects can be integrated with the economic and social ones later on to quantify the total return for society. Therefore, a life cycle analysis (LCA) has been performed for two potential biochar production systems in Belgium based on two different feedstocks: (i) willow and (ii) pig manure. First, the environmental impacts of the two biochar production systems are assessed from a life cycle perspective, assuming one ton of biochar as the functional unit. Therefore, LCA using SimaPro software has been performed both on the midpoint and endpoint level. Biochar production from willow achieves better results compared to biochar from pig manure for all environmental impact categories considered. In a second step, monetary valuation has been applied to the LCA results in order to weigh environmental benefits against environmental costs using the Ecotax, Ecovalue, and Stepwise approach. Consequently, sensitivity analysis investigates the impact of variation in NPK savings and byproducts of the biochar production process on monetized life cycle assessment results. As a result, it is suggested that biochar production from willow is preferred to biochar production from pig manure from an environmental point of view. In future research, those monetized environmental impacts will be integrated within existing techno-economic models that calculate the financial viability from an investor’s point of view, so that the total return for society can be quantified and the preferred biochar production system from a societal point of view can be identified.

Exploring the integration between Lean and the Theory of Constraints in Operations Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 718-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Augusto de Jesus Pacheco ◽  
Isaac Pergher ◽  
José Antônio Valle Antunes Junior ◽  
Guilherme Luís Roehe Vaccaro
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Production System ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
The Body ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare different models integrating the TOC and Lean approaches. Design/methodology/approach The models of reference were identified through a comprehensive literature review. A qualitative and comparative analysis was carried out by pointing out the strengths, weaknesses and gaps of models integrating the TOC and Lean based on the production system requirements. Findings The findings indicate that these models can be improved by introducing aspects related to the system structure such as main key performance indicators, type of shop layout and performance metrics to evaluate the improvements implemented in the production system. The results provided evidence that the TOC and Lean are complementary approaches, and the individual gaps of each approach seem to be, in the most part, offset by the virtues of the other. Practical implications This study enables decision makers and industrial managers to evaluate the practices adopted in the production environment, as well as the use of the different set of continuous improvement practices. This article also minimizes the literature gap regarding whether and how integrated Lean and TOC approach can be used in the firms. Originality/value This study contributes to the body of literature on Lean by comparing three different models integrating Lean and the TOC. Furthermore, a research agenda is suggested for future research aimed at developing new models integrating both approaches, aiming to increase the competitiveness of the production systems.

Exploring a holistic perspective on production system improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Stålberg ◽  
Anders Fundin
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Operational Effectiveness ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Perspective ◽  
System Improvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how holistic improvement work can be organized and what challenges can be observed in the process of adopting a holistic perspective on production system improvement. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study and a questionnaire have been carried out. Data for the case study has been collected through semi-structured interviews, archived documents and participatory observations. The questionnaire was done in order to increase the generalizability of the findings from the case study and further validate the conclusions. Findings – The improvement work at the case company is organized as a continuous improvement approach in a Lean Production system in the form of a company-specific production system (XPS), in which two other improvement approaches are incorporated. Some of the identified challenges are: the establishment of a holistic perspective on improvement opportunities; the development of a process to update the production strategy; the continuous update of the Operational Management System during the XPS implementation; aggregating measures for the improvement work and measuring the effect of improvement work. Research limitations/implications – As the current case study is limited to one case company, future research is interested in expanding to other production systems contexts for further validation. Originality/value – The present study offers an increased understanding of the integration difficulties of improvement work that many production companies face regarding operational effectiveness, and based on the findings, some implications for management are presented.

scholarly journals Environmental Impact Assessments of Integrated Food and Non-Food Production Systems in Italy and Denmark

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 849
Author(s):  
Lisa Mølgaard Lehmann ◽  
Magdalena Borzęcka ◽  
Katarzyna Żyłowska ◽  
Andrea Pisanelli ◽  
Giuseppe Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Production System ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Silvopastoral System ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
Conventional Production

Given the environmental footprints of the conventional agriculture, it is imperative to test and validate alternative production systems, with lower environmental impacts to mitigate and adapt our production systems. In this study, we identified six production systems, four in Italy and two in Denmark, to assess the environmental footprint for comparison among the production systems and additionally with conventional production systems. SimaPro 8.4 software was used to carry out the life cycle impact assessment. Among other indicators, three significantly important indicators, namely global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication, were used as the proxy for life cycle impact assessment. In Italy, the production systems compared were silvopastoral, organic, traditional, and conventional olive production systems, whereas in Denmark, combined food and energy production system was compared with the conventional wheat production system. Among the six production systems, conventional wheat production system in Denmark accounted for highest global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication. In Italy, global warming potential was highest in traditional agroforestry and lowest in the silvopastoral system whereas acidification and eutrophication were lowest in the traditional production system with high acidification effects from the silvopastoral system. In Italy, machinery use contributed the highest greenhouse gas emissions in silvopastoral and organic production systems, while the large contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer was recorded in the traditional and conventional production systems. In Denmark, the combined food and energy system had lower environmental impacts compared to the conventional wheat production system according to the three indicators. For both systems in Denmark, the main contribution to greenhouse gas emission was due to fertilizer and manure application. The study showed that integrated food and non-food systems are more environmentally friendly and less polluting compared to the conventional wheat production system in Denmark with use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation. The study can contribute to informed decision making by the land managers and policy makers for promotion of environmentally friendly food and non-food production practices, to meet the European Union targets of providing biomass-based materials and energy to contribute to the bio-based economy in Europe and beyond.

Life cycle assessment applied to waste management in Italy: A mini-review of characteristics and methodological perspectives for local assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110179
Author(s):  
Daniela Camana ◽  
Sara Toniolo ◽  
Alessandro Manzardo ◽  
Mirco Piron ◽  
Antonio Scipioni
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Minimum Requirements

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and related tools are commonly used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of waste treatment scenarios. This manuscript presents a mini-review of studies published over the last 10 years in Italy and aims to investigate how life cycle thinking tools are applied to assess the environmental sustainability of local-level waste policies. Results reveal that different waste flows, technologies and policies have been investigated independently and in varying detail. Review suggests that boundary selection significantly affects LCA results; integration of different waste systems is therefore crucial to avoid spatial or temporal shifts of environmental impacts. Moreover, the description of methodological characteristics, limitations and transversal aspects of Italian waste management studies allows various stakeholders to assess the reliability of past and future research for waste policy planning and rebound effects prevention. This review also highlights the need to define minimum requirements of transparency and ease of reporting of the studies to private and public stakeholders. Finally, the paper investigates whether using both the organisational LCA and the life cycle sustainability approach for the overall waste management process may be useful to develop a standard method to address multi-functionalities and multiple sites.

scholarly journals 198 Beef cattle support system modeling

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 68-69
Author(s):  
Robin R White
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Mechanistic Models ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
System Models ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
Farm System

Abstract A model is a tool used to study the dynamics of a system when investigations on the system itself are difficult because of scope, scale, sensitivity, or other complexities. Beef cattle production in the United States is at least a 2- to 4-phase process, consisting of economic, social, environmental, and biological relationships. As such, modeling is a logical strategy to handle many research questions focused on systems responses of beef cattle production systems. There are a number of modeling tools that can be used to research beef cattle production settings, including but not limited to: nutrient requirement models, pasture models, farm system models, and life cycle assessments. Life cycle assessments are the broadest category of models and typically fall under the umbrella of static, deterministic, empirical models that encompass the entirety of the beef production system from manufacture of the inputs through production of the outputs. There are a number of life cycle assessments of beef cattle production systems and comparison of the outcome of these models is a strategy to discern how changes in one aspect of the production system affect all downstream processes. Farm system models can assess an individual economic enterprise or an entirety of a beef production system and typically are dynamic, mechanistic models of the interactions between cattle and their external environments. Several researchers have also established deterministic, empirical farm system models, or hybrids of these two model types. Pasture models can be independent of or tightly linked with farm system models. Most pasture models are dynamic, mechanistic models; however, deterministic, empirical models also exist. Pasture models typically seek to model plant/soil/water interactions. Finally, animal response models and nutrient requirement models can be used to represent animal/feed/management interactions. These models can be dynamic or static, deterministic or mechanistic.

scholarly journals The Use of Life Cycle-Based Approaches in the Food Service Sector to Improve Sustainability: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berill Takacs ◽  
Aiduan Borrion
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Impact Reduction

With the prevalence of eating out increasing, the food service sector has an increasing role in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and healthy food systems. While life cycle-based approaches are recommended to be used as reference methods for assessing the environmental sustainability of food systems and supply chains, their application in the food service sector is still relatively scarce. In this study, a systematic review was conducted to examine the use and effectiveness of life-cycle based interventions in improving the sustainability of food services. This review found that life-cycle based approaches are not only useful for identifying hotspots for impact reduction, but also for comparing the performance of different sustainability interventions. In particular, interventions targeting the production phase, such as promoting dietary change through menu planning in which high-impact ingredients (e.g., animal products) are replaced with low-impact ingredients (e.g., plant foods), had the highest improvement potential. Interventions targeting other phases of the catering supply chain (e.g., food storage, meal preparation, waste management) had considerably lower improvement potentials. This review article provides valuable insights on how the sustainability of the food service sector can be improved without the burden shifting of impacts, which interventions to prioritise, and where knowledge gaps in research exist. A key recommendation for future research is to focus on combined life cycle thinking approaches that are capable of addressing sustainability holistically in the food service sector by integrating and assessing the environmental, social and economic dimensions of interventions.

Monitoring of psyllids (Psylloidea: Phalacridae) in integrated systems with eucalyptus

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
F. T. Campelo ◽  
R. M. Pitta ◽  
L. R. Barbosa ◽  
D. L. Queiroz ◽  
J. N. Corassa
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Integrated Systems ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Productive Systems

Diversified systems allow the balance of the ecosystem, reducing the action of harmful insects to monoculture by retention time and immigration of the natural enemies. The objective of this research was to monitor the population of psilids, hemiptera, Psylloidea: Aphalaridae, deeucaliptos in integrated production systems. The evaluations were carried out in an experiment on productive systems integrating the components of eucalyptus crop, pasture and forest in a transition region between Cerrado and Amazonia in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study was conducted from June 2013 to September 2014, with assessments conducted during periods of drought and rain. The eggs, nymphs and adults of Spondyliaspidinae were quantified in each production system, using as methods of collection, adhesive traps and collection of the eucalyptus branches. The species Glycaspisbrimblecombei and Blastopsyllaoccidentalis were found. The largest infestations of eggs, nymphs and adults were in the dry period. The treatments did not differ for the variable eggs of B. occidentalis, but presented a significant difference for nymphs and adults. The effect of the treatments was not significant for eggs, nymphs and adults of G. brimblecombei. The time did not show a significant difference for the eggs of G. brimblecombei, but significant for their nymphs and adults. It concludes that the psyllids were not harmful to eucalyptus in the studied silvicultural phase and that the diverse landscape contributes to the reduction

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