Reducing the Production Costs of Pots from Wastes in Cockle Mushroom Cultivation Using Industrial Engineering Techniques

Abstract

Cockle mushroom lumps remaining after cultivation are waste materials that can be developed into pots; however, the production processes involve high costs. Thus, the objective of this research was to reduce the production costs of pots made from cockle mushroom cultivation waste using industrial engineering techniques. An operation process chart, flow process chart, waste reduction concepts, and production costs calculations were applied in this study. The results showed that unnecessary processes, working time, waiting time, and unnecessary movement could be reduced. At the same time, the ingredient formulation for pot production was improved by reducing the amount of high-priced raw materials, such as cassava starch, and eliminating the use of vegetable oil for coating molds. With the improved formulation comprising 100 grams of sawdust, 100 grams of cassava starch, and 300 milliliters of water without vegetable oil coating, the posts exhibited better vertical compressive strength (1,780 N) and lower water absorption (36.33%) compared to those produced with the original formulation. As a result of both the improved production process and the revised ingredient formulation, production costs were reduced by approximately 31.8%, decreasing from 9.68 baht per piece to 6.60 baht per piece.