Green Practices In Electronic Manufacturing Services Ems: Optimatech

By Author: Sonu
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There is a problem of waste in the electronics industry. The global generation of electronic waste amounts to more than 50 million metric tons annually- and even a small percentage of that amount gets recycled. That is a bitter pill to swallow to the providers of electronic manufacturing services EMS. These are the firms at the center of the electronics manufacturing in the world and their choice of materials, processes, and supply chain has massive environmental impacts.
The good news? The number of EMS companies that are seriously considering green practices is increasing. Sustainable manufacturing is no longer a differentiator and more of a standard on the factory floor with the reduction of hazardous substances and streamlining of energy utilization. This is what that would actually look like in practice- and why it is important.

Electronic manufacturing services EMS: What are they?

It is useful to know what EMS companies are actually doing before going into the green side of things. Electronic manufacturing service providers deal with design, assembly, ...
... testing, and distribution of electronic components and products on behalf of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Imagine circuit boards, semiconductors, and the complex assemblies contained within medical equipment, auto systems and consumer electronics.

Since EMS providers are at a large scale, their environmental impact is high. That is why they are such strong tools of change when they become green, the effect is felt throughout whole supply chains.
Key Green Practices in EMS

Adherence to Environmental Conformity

Regulatory compliance is the basis of any green EMS operation. The most significant models are:
• RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Material): Prohibits the usage of such materials as lead, mercury and cadmium in electronics.
• WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment): Provides specifications in terms of collection, recycling and recovery of electronic wastes.
• REACH: It is a European law that covers the manufacture and use of chemicals and their possible effects.
It is not only about staying out of fines. Manufacturers that actively conform to these standards stand in a better position to secure contracts with environmental conscious OEM and enter into markets that severely regulate importation.
Design for Environment
Among these strategies, one of the most useful but least frequently used green approaches is to design products in such a way that their end-of-life is taken into consideration at the initial stage. Design for Environment Design for Environment (DfE) does not promote engineers to think about the recyclability, disassembly, and material toxicity of the product only after it has been developed.
Real-life DfE uses are:
• Using the materials that are less difficult to recycle or recover.
• Making components fewer in order to make disassembly easier.
• The prevention of mixed-material assemblies that cannot be separated easily when at the end-of-life.
• Where feasible, using snap-fit connection, as opposed to adhesives.
Costs when implemented at an early stage, such as DfE principles, minimize the effects of environmental impact as well as long-term costs-a formula that is difficult to refute.

Energy Saving on the Production Level

Facilities used in manufacturing are energy consuming in nature. Reflow ovens, wave soldering machines and automated test equipment all use a lot of power. Smart EMS providers are developing methods of minimizing that consumption without effecting a drop in the quality of output.
Common approaches include:
• LED lighting enhances facilities.
• Real-time power optimization and management systems.
• Systems that recycle the heat energy used in the manufacturing process.
• Idle time of equipment can be minimized by scheduling.
Other prominent EMS organizations have gone at a greater level and invested in renewable energy generation onsite or renewable energy certificates purchase (REC) to offset their grid use.

Waste Management and Solutions

Reduction of waste begins at the production line. Methods such as solder paste control, high accuracy dispensing and automatic eye inspection minimise wasteful materials and rework. In a situation where wastes cannot be avoided, proper disposal is vital.

Certified e-waste recycling programs help in ensuring that the hazardous materials are properly disposed of instead of going into landfills. Most EMS companies have contracted certified recyclers to handle all solder dross and chemical solvents as well as scrap circuit boards and packaging material.

The lean manufacturing principles are also involved. Manufacturers reduced waste at the source, instead of controlling it downstream, by reducing overproduction and excess inventory.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

A producer can make the greenest plant in the business and a huge imprint on the environment, when his or her suppliers fail to do so. That is why EMS companies who think ahead are extending the green expectations into their supply chains.
This includes:
• Random screening of suppliers on environmental standards.
• The use of locally sourced materials to focus on transportation emissions reduction.
• Instructing suppliers to divulge the source and contents of materials.

Water and Chemicals Control

Processes of electronics manufacturing are frequently associated with the use of chemicals in the cleaning, etching and finishing of the surface. These are some of the responsibilities that are to be managed in green EMS.

The closed-loop water system is where the process water is recycled instead of discharging it as waste water. The chemical substitution programs are used to substitute the toxic materials with a safer alternative anywhere possible. And stringent monitoring of hazardous waste guarantees that there is no leakage of anything dangerous through the loopholes.

Conclusion

The trajectory is clear. The electronics manufacturing sector is experiencing increased pressure to go green due to customer demand, regulatory pressures and sheer magnitude of the global e-waste issue and the trend is only gaining momentum.

In the case of the electronic manufacturing services EMS companies, the question is no longer whether the companies should invest in sustainability, but how to implement it in a strategic manner. The green manufacturing providers who consider green manufacturing as a fundamental capability, not a box to be checked, will be in a better position to compete, innovate, and expand in the future.

The technology in the devices that we use on a daily basis does not need to cost the environment. With proper practices this is where EMS providers can be included in the solution.
Optima Technology is a fine EMS provider you can trust.