Additive manufacturing of steel for digital spare parts – A perspective on carbon emissions for decentral production
Mario Rupp, Manuel Buck, René Klink, Markus Merkel, David K. Harrison
Abstract
Digitization is one of the megatrends of our time. New production and supply chain methods are introduced in the industry, which fundamentally change the previous workflows. An area in which digitization can bring about major changes in the spare parts business. One approach to develop the spare parts business regarding technology and sustainability is the digital spare parts concept. The concept follows the goal to produce decentral in the required quantity and at the required location. The research focuses on the calculation of carbon emissions to compare the subtractive and additive production of metal parts and their transport ways. A literature review analyses existing studies and quantifies the main carbon emission drivers of the production of metal spare parts production. With the help of the DHL Carbon Calculator, the transport emissions are identified. Depending on the urgency of the spare part, transport varies between ship, train, truck or airplane on different distances. A data set of 27,000 scenarios is analysed. It is shown, that the transport routes are not the major driver for carbon emissions along the whole process chain. Analysis showed, that the buy-to-fly ratio and the energy mix are the key drivers for carbon emissions.