Assessing the impact of embodied water in manufacturing systems

This paper introduces a simulation-based approach that can be implemented to model energy and water flows in manufacturing systems. The approach contains a generic state-based model for a single machine and follows a bottom-up approach to construct the model of the whole system. This approach provides a reliable base for simulating operating conditions and evaluating different what-if scenarios in order to improve system performance. Then, one of the most appropriate methods for water footprint assessment in manufacturing industry is chosen, and a manufacturing site of a pharmaceutical company, as a case is studied to show how the proposed model can be applied. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.