CEE Seminar - Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing: Origins and Thoughts for the Future

We are increasingly conscious of the environmental challenges we face: solid, liquid, and airborne waste streams; shortages of water, select materials, and energy resources; and climate change. Manufacturing produces and supplies the goods and services needed by society and is an engine of prosperity. However, like many other aspects of engineering, fundamental changes are needed to manufacturing to put us on a course to being environmentally sustainable. The origins of environmentally responsible manufacturing (often referred to as sustainable manufacturing) will be discussed. In particular, work related to reducing cutting fluids in machining operations, remanufacturing, and economic and environmental evaluation of life cycles will be reviewed. Promising directions for future research and development will also be provided such as circular economy, greener processes and products, smart/sustainable manufacturing, critical material challenges for clean energy technologies, and green manufacturing planning.