Clean Production Audit-Planning and Organization
Clean production is a term used to describe production processes that reduce, or even eliminate the environmental impact of production. It is part of a broader concept of sustainable development by taking into account environmental, economic and social aspects. Clean production audit (CPA) is a process that reviews and evaluates sustainable production practices, as well as potential improvements to address potential environmental, economic and social impacts. The goal of the CPA is to identify, analyze and communicate opportunities for improvement by evaluating current practices and procedures and suggesting alternative approaches and technologies.
With the recent legislation in many countries, asking for improved standards in the industrial production, more manufacturers have adopted clean production strategies. Among them, there is an increased interest in the implementation of CPA, recognizing the potential gains for both environment and financial benefits.
The success of any Clean Production Audit is dependent on the systematic and comprehensive planning, organization and implementation of the process. The following discussion covers various aspects within this process.
Planning
The CPA requires thorough preparation, which should include the following steps: conducting background information review, review of legislation and determining the goal of the CPA, development of audit goals, selection of appropriate techniques and personnel and preparation of the audit document.
Background information review
Background information review including review of available documents, reports and auditing record, as well as assimilating information gathered during visits to the manufacturing sites, is the starting point of CPA. The goal of this step is to obtain necessary information on the manufacturing process. This can be accomplished by reviewing existing documentation related to production process, onsite observations, and interviews with personnel. Also, determining the resources available for improvement is essential for ultimate success of CPA.
Review of legislation
The second component of planning involves researching the relevant legal and regulatory requirements that may require changes to the current production process. Industry standards, permits, government policies and regulations should all be taken into consideration in order to effectively plan for progress.
Determining the goal of the CPA
The goals of CPA should relate directly to the purpose of the review and the requirements of the organization planning the audit. In other words, the CPA should be directed at the goal of reducing environmental impacts and providing economic savings.
Development of audit goals
The next step is to develop audit goals that align with the overall goal of the CPA. This might include setting a timeline for when the CPA should be completed, what needs to be accomplished and how the process will be conducted.
Selection of appropriate techniques and personnel
To ensure a successful CPA, it is essential to select the appropriate techniques and personnel for conducting the audit. The auditor should be familiar with the production process and the relevant regulations. Additionally, the auditor should be knowledgeable about the CPA process, such as data collection methods, sampling, and analysis methods.
Document preparation
The final step in the planning stage is to develop a document that clearly outlines the CPA process, the goals and objectives of the audit, and the techniques and personnel to be used. This document should also include a timeline for the completion of the CPA.
Organization
The organization of the CPA is crucial for its success. The auditor should be familiar with the production process and the relevant regulations. Additionally, the auditor should be knowledgeable about the CPA process, such as data collection methods, sampling and analysis methods.
Data collection
Data collection for CPA includes gathering relevant information on the production process such as materials, energy, water usage, wastewater, hazardous materials, emissions, etc. During this stage of the CPA, it is also important to obtain other relevant data such as business operations, financial information and work practices.
Analysis
The analysis stage of the CPA includes reviewing the data that was collected during the data collection stage. This stage reviews the gathered information to determine compliance with regulations, identify potential areas of improvement and make recommendations.
Reporting
The final step in the organizational phase of the CPA is the reporting stage. The CPA report should provide a comprehensive summary of the data collected and analyzed during the process, provide recommendations for improvement and identify areas where additional attention is needed.
Implementation
The implementation phase of a CPA is the most important step in the process because it is the stage in which the recommendations are put into practice. The implementation plan should include specific timelines, resources and personnel necessary to implement the recommendations. Additionally, it is important to identify how the CPA recommendations will be tracked and monitored.
Clean production audit is an essential process for many companies today and is likely to become more important as regulations and public opinion move more towards producing in a sustainable manner. A clean production audit can provide valuable information on potential improvements to a manufacturing process, as well as potential financial and environmental benefits. With proper planning, organization and implementation, CPA can help the organization identify and realize these potential benefits.
