Comparison of the resource efficiency of alternative process chains for surface hardening

Abstract

As negative implications of resource exploitation and further undesirable ecological developments, e.g. climate change, increase, companies are confronted with novel challenges. Especially during the production stage of a product's lifecycle companies have the possibility to influence the resource consumption by choosing the most efficient process chain for a certain manufacturing task. To compare accumulated resource flows of different process chains, a new valuation method using a resource efficiency index was developed. Exemplarily, this paper will analyze the resource consumption of two alternative process chains for surface hardening of a workpiece resembling a guide rail.