An Overall Multi-criteria Approach to Sustainability Assessment of Manufacturing Processes

The paper depicts an overall multi-criteria approach for sustainability assessment of manufacturing processes. The analytic hierarchy process method is used to determine ranking of activity areas for manufacturing processes in terms of sustainability objectives. An analytical technique is also employed to assess the degree of sustainability in manufacturing. The paper introduces “improvement scenario” between existing and new processes, but is based on an approach which can be applied to perform the sustainability assessment of manufacturing processes requiring less detailed data, time, and expert knowledge, but still providing a company-level analysis. The results show biggest (significant) improvement is represented by painting (40%), then cleaning (30%), and cutting (19%). The applicability and usability of the proposed assessment method was verified by the case study in company producing heating devices.