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The potential of the minimal lubrication technology can only be brought to advantage by using a system wide perspective. Conventional physical and logistical models have shown to be insufficient for this purpose, and therefore, the authors developed a new, specific model. The new methodology offers default parameters for the main and auxiliary processes, which can be adapted to the production system which is studied. Next, the different processes are cross-linked and an overall evaluation is performed. The model empowers serial producers, for example in the automobile industry, to analyse all effects of a possible introduction of minimal lubrication into their production system.

Key drivers in our global economy are mainly cost. The growing importance of environmental themes does not change this view. Today very often economic performance and environmental friendliness are considered to be non-compatible. The reasoning for this is mainly, that environmental protection is seen defensive and end-of-pipe oriented. If an organizations emphasis is only legal compliance, such arguments are especially true. Here filters, sewage plants and waste management are real cost drivers. In order to overcome this non-beneficial situation, new approaches are inevitable. Offensive approaches are required to meet both, economic and environmental targets. LCA has in the past only been used to assess a systems environmental performance. Therefore many data were collected and assessed, but only from an environmental standpoint. However, this time and cost intensive data collection has also significantly contributed to arguments against the use of LCA.

In the process of implementing lean production systems, designs must be optimized both at the local and the global levels. In this paper we will explore the application of Kanban systems in three different localized situations: For transportation of large quantities of materials from a group of suppliers over long distances. For establishing regular, short flowtime production through shared resources. For maintaining proper priority and sequence through a labor saving device where manual alternatives exist. The objective of this paper will be to communicate the situations under which these solutions apply, as well as propose a method for analysis and implementation.