The present-day manufacturing industry isn’t as eager about setting up more factories as it used to be, and for good reason. As time passes, more and more concern emerges for the environment. With many eyes focused on how the earth can be saved, manufacturers must do their part.
In a quest to reduce their carbon footprint, brands have a responsibility to look into every possibility, including working with second-hand machine tools instead of newer ones. But what effect will this have in the grand scheme of things?
Keep reading, and find out.
Carbon Footprints in Manufacturing and Logistics
When considering the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, one might fall into the trap of only considering the actual processing. It’s easy to see the black smoke drifting from tall chimneys and point fingers, but the entire manufacturing process contributes greatly to global carbon emissions.
As such, when considering how to improve, every stage of processing needs to be considered, from acquiring raw materials and refining to packaging. Even the shipping stage plays a major role in a plant’s carbon footprint.
But with so many stages to examine, where should scrutiny fall first? What aspect of the manufacturing process would change the most should an outfit choose to go eco-friendly? A good place to start is with the mechanical tools used during processing.
Buying Second-Hand Machines: An Eco-Friendly Approach
Industrial machinery is often grand in scale and complex in operation. The complexity scales depending on what is produced and needed at each processing stage. As such, many resources go into creating the right tools for the job. Some are made to order and take a lot of time to complete.
More resources are needed to break this down further to produce a new machine rather than use an existing one. Raw materials will need to be harvested, and this has a strongly negative impact on the environment.
With this in mind, it’s easy to understand why using second-hand mechanical tools would be ideal and significantly reduce a plant’s carbon emissions. Now, suppose you run a production outfit of your own.
In that case, you might wonder how to source second-hand manufacturing equipment.Thankfully, brands like rdmo make quality-assured, second-hand equipment available. You can check out what they offer by clicking the link below https://www.rdmo.com/.
Impact of Buying Second-Hand on the Supply Chain
If you’re new to the prospect of purchasing and using second-hand equipment in your production process, you might be concerned about how it would impact your supply chain. The manufacturing process is delicate, and even the smallest change can have a significant impact.
Thankfully, as long as you can find the exact tools you need for your process to run smoothly, there’s no major impact in using second-hand mechanical tools. It’s also worth considering the age of the tools you’re purchasing.
Older models might be in disrepair, but something that has been used and discarded recently would work perfectly. As long as you have competent employees ready to do due diligence, you shouldn’t run into any issues with second-hand machines.
You might also want to consider sourcing refurbished mechanical tools that have been revived and are ready to be used. Not only are they cheaper, they do less harm to the environment.
Possible Challenges
Choosing to make a change that will significantly improve your process’s carbon footprint won’t be easy. You might not be able to find the exact tools you need for your process, and replacements won’t always work.
It’s also possible that certain tools you purchase won’t fit well into the assembly line, and this could impact the quality of your products. However, once you can overcome these challenges, everything will be fine.
Take your time and research the tools you intend to purchase, ensuring that they meet the requirements of your manufacturing plant. Also, once you’ve managed to secure the items you need, stress-test them extensively before attempting to integrate them with your assembly line.
It’s also important to consider what step of the production process a machine is needed in. Some stages require precision; anything less than a perfectly working machine impedes production.
Finally, consider the experience of your team. There’s no point in purchasing machines no one knows how to use. While you might have to sacrifice in certain aspects to get the right tool second-hand, let the handlers know how to use the tools.
Conclusion
When all is said and done, the production industry has become an essential part of the world today. While it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, there are steps that can be taken to create some level of harmony between manufacturers and the environment. However, one needs to be intentional about making a change.
This is a call to reflect on what has been discussed in the sections above. There’s a lot your manufacturing setup could gain by properly integrating second-hand tools in the process. Be intentional, and everything will fall into place.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Ereferer. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on November 24, 2024.
Cover image provided by Ereferer.