An Integrated approach to energy efficiency in automotive manufacturing systems: quantitative analysis and optimisation

Abstract

Automotive manufacturing industries are facing new challenges in the multi-faceted context of economy, technology and environment. Increasing energy prices and environmental issues mean that energy is now one of major costs in automotive manufacturing industries and also responsible for a significant proportion of Green House Gas emissions. The development of energy efficient techniques in automotive manufacturing operations is crucial to reduce energy consumption, Green House Gas emissions and also production costs. This paper presents a simulation-based methodology and the associated software development for the modelling of thermal and energy management across the automotive manufacturing plant and its application to the effective energy management of the manufacturing systems on shopfloor through an energy smart production management (e-ProMan). After current laboratory/workshop trials, the system will undergo validation trials at a number of manufacturing SMEs.