Reducing manufacturing carbon emissions: Optimal low carbon production strategies respect to product structures and...

In the production process of industrial products, different product structures, batches, and the selection of different production methods directly affect the resource utilization, distribution, consumption, and carbon emission generation in the production process. In this study, a strategy to select low carbon production methods for product structure and batch is proposed to advance resource management and carbon emission reduction in manufacturing production processes. Specifically, taking a typical casting industry as an example, we analyze the two factors of product structures and batches on the resource consumption and environmental impact of the production process to establish a production process carbon emission model; using forty casting products as the research objects, the clustering algorithm and multiple linear regression analysis method are used to establish the influence relationship between product structure, batch, and production carbon emissions. Based on the characteristics of product structure and batch, a strategy is proposed for selecting a low carbon production method. The study shows that in sand casting production, the 3D printing method is more low carbon for small volumes, reducing 56.057 % of carbon emissions. However, traditional technology is more low carbon for large volumes, which can reduce at least 6.778 % of carbon emissions. In addition, as the number of casting batches increases, the advantage of low carbon in traditional casting technology will rise. The results of this study may provide a new way to help the manufacturing industry develop and optimize the environmental impact of the product manufacturing process.