POLLUTION BALANCE - A NEW METHODOLOGY FOR MINIMIZING WASTE PRODUCTION IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

A new methodolgy based on a generic pollution balance equation, has been developed for minimizing waste production in manufacturing processes. A ''pollution index,'' defined as the mass of waste produced per unit mass of a product, has been introduced to provide a quantitative measure of waste generation in a process. A waste reduction algorithm also has been developed from the pollution balance equation. This paper explains this methodology and demonstrates the applicability of the method by a case study.