Enhancement of Productivity of Traditional Brass Manufacturing Industry Using Sustainable Manufacturing Concept

The Sri Lankan Brass manufacturing industry has evolved through centuries. Since then, this industry has been operated as family business, there are many gaps compared to modern manufacturing industries. Hence it faces sever threats from different aspects including escalation of raw material prices, proper reverse logistic mechanism to collect scarp brass material, lack of competencies to adapt new technology. This research is carried out to investigate the adaptation of appropriate technology to replace traditional sand casting process and manual sheet metal carving process. As a secondary measure, a methodology is developed to introduce appropriate technology to marginalized community as University - Industry partnership. This is paramount important since they do not have required level of technical competencies to use CAD, CAM. Outcomes reveal that there are number of productivity enhancements in terms of product quality, material efficiency and process standardization.