Modeling environmental friendly industrial processes
It appears that there is a conflict between growing industrial activities and the concern for the protection of the environment. Theoretical approaches present techniques and models, which demonstrate environmental friendly industrial activities with no impact in the products' quality or the production costs. However, there is a gap between theory and practice. The MAPP project (Multivariate Approach for statistical Process control and cleaner Production) is trying to fill this gap, developed an integrated software program that aims to assist in the reduction of environmental impacts caused by industrial processing. In parallel with this reduction, the software aims to assist in lowering production costs and improving product quality. The software consists of various modules that cover all steps from data mining, data capture, database and environmental modeling, to real-time implementation. The main concept behind the development is that better process control can be achieved by using models that describe the relationship among all the parameters of an industrial process. From process input to final product cost and quality as well as the environmental impact. The final result is a process that both costs less and at the same time produces less environmental impacts. The software has been tested in different fields such as the car industry and wastewater management, demonstrating that online predictions can replace time-consuming and expensive laboratory analysis. In addition, the software design provides the operator with a more descriptive presentation of the whole process offering deeper knowledge about it, leading to a better and tighter process control.
