Introduction
Toyota Australia produces high-quality vehicles and engines at the plant located in Altona. To improve the production process and respond to the principles of sustainability and environmental protection, it is necessary to implement the new technology to save the water used in the technological process.
The project is developed to demonstrate the advantages of the new water cycling technology with references to the specifics of the process and aspects of its successful implementation at the Altona plant. In 2011/2012, 355,611 kL of water was used at the plant with the minimal utilization of the recycled water (Toyota Australia Sustainability Report 2012).
The new water cycling technology allows the implementation of the non-waster process when 100% of recycled water are utilized in manufacturing. To implement the technology, the microfiltration system, several reverse osmosis systems, and the industrial storage tank is necessary.
To guarantee the space and costs savings, the location of the system should be determined. The practical value of the project’s development and implementation is in decreasing the costs, savings the water and energy resources, and protecting the environment.
Background Information
Toyota Australia focuses on the sustainable production meeting the main concepts and ideas of the corporate social responsibility. Nevertheless, to improve the manufacturing process and contribute to the reduction of water resources usage, it is necessary to implement the new water cycling technology.
355,611 kg of water was used at the Altona plant in 2011/2012, and it is possible to operate this number as the average amount of water which will be saved with the usage of the new technology (Toyota Australia Sustainability Report 2012).
The implementation of production based on the 100% water cycling process is the effective strategy to save the company’s costs and operate according to the ideas of the organization’s corporate social responsibility while preserving the water and energy resources (Dissolved metals removal from wastewater 2011).
The new technology is based on the pattern of the electric’s membrane separation method of recycling water used at the plants of Mitsubishi (Mitsubishi Electric: a practical water recycling solution 2013). The usage of the technology guarantees the 100% reuse of water with diminishing the environmental risks and increasing the company’s profits.
The wastewater treatment system allows the regulation of microfiltration the heavy metals removal process with minimal risks for the environment. It is necessary to use reverse osmosis technology in order to achieve higher results and control the water purity completely.
If the previously used systems contributed only to save 30% of all the water used in the technological process with its further recycling, now the other 70% will be saved with the help of the technology (Commercial water tanks 2013; Reverse Osmosis Unit 2010).
As a result, the technology meets the requirements of the company’s environmentally responsible strategy and meets the interests of the community, saving the water resources (Toyota Sustainability Report 2012).
The successful implementation of the new technology in the production process requires the effective and cooperative work of the whole organization’s structure.
The main focus is usually on the work of the engineering department, manufacturing department, information systems department, and distribution systems center which should work cooperatively to implement the new technology during the shortest period of time. The business initiative leads to the creation of the effective cooperative environment within the company oriented to the principles of social responsibility.
References
Commercial water tanks 2013. Web.
Dissolved metals removal from wastewater 2011. Web.
Mitsubishi Electric: a practical water recycling solution 2013. Web.
Reverse Osmosis Unit 2010. Web.
Toyota Australia Sustainability Report 2012. Web.
Toyota Sustainability Report 2012. Web.