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Sustainability on Production and Industrial Management

A topical collection in Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This collection belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

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Editor

Faculty of Engineering Management, Poznan University of Technology, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
Interests: manufacturing engineering; maintenance technologies; maintenance management; multi-criteria decision-making methods; sustainability performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable production depends on the management of waste minimization, energy consumption, resources saving (e.g., water, energy, etc.), the reliability of the machines used (in regard to the high environmental impact of maintenance, repairs, and replacement), and the increase of human wellbeing in working environments. To develop more sustainable societies, industries need to better understand how to respond to environmental, economic, and social challenges, and to transform industrial behavior.

This Special Issue aims to show recent research on the concepts, methods, tools, and applications for sustainable production in order to advance and promote the development of modern and intelligent production systems and industrial management. I hope that by developing the field tools and knowledge we can help to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable industrial system.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • sustainable technologies
  • sustainable operations and maintenance
  • sustainable work environments
  • methods, tools, and practices for sustainability of production and industrial management
  • sustainability assessment of industrial processes and/or products
  • remanufacturing of industrial products
  • multiple life cycles of industrial products (reuse, recycle, reconditioning)
  • closing the material loops in production process

Dr. Malgorzata Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • industrial management
  • business models
  • IT technologies
  • lean & green methods, tools and practices
  • human wellbeing
  • sustainability assessment
  • remanufacturing
  • recycling
  • closed loop processes 

Published Papers (15 papers)

2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

19 pages, 329 KiB  
Article
Has Artificial Intelligence Promoted Manufacturing Servitization: Evidence from Chinese Enterprises
by Daxing Chen, Helian Xu and Guangya Zhou
Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2526; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062526 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 361
Abstract
Artificial intelligence, as a novel form of infrastructure with both generality and knowledge spillover characteristics, plays a crucial role in facilitating the profound integration of the manufacturing and service industries, and achieving economic transformation. This paper empirically investigates the impacts of artificial intelligence [...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence, as a novel form of infrastructure with both generality and knowledge spillover characteristics, plays a crucial role in facilitating the profound integration of the manufacturing and service industries, and achieving economic transformation. This paper empirically investigates the impacts of artificial intelligence on the process of manufacturing servitization, utilizing merged data from the OECD-ICIOT (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Intercountry Input-Output Tables) industry data, the Chinese industrial enterprise database, and the customs trade database. The empirical findings of this research demonstrate that artificial intelligence has significant and positive effects on manufacturing servitization. These positive effects primarily occur through two channels: enhancing total factor productivity and optimizing the labor skill structure. Furthermore, this study examines the variations in the impact of artificial intelligence on the transformation of embedded services and blended services. The analysis reveals that artificial intelligence significantly promotes the transformation of embedded services, while its impact on the transformation of blended services is comparatively less pronounced. Full article

2023

Jump to: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2020

20 pages, 3066 KiB  
Article
The Industrial Decision Analysis of Regional Coordinated Development Considering Information Distribution and Fairness Preference
by Linwei Pan, Xueyu Liao, Rui Li and Shuangping Cao
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 16006; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152216006 - 16 Nov 2023
Viewed by 536
Abstract
Regional industry synergistic planning contributes to the achievement of Goal 11 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The reasonable layout of regional industries is an important measure for achieving sustainable development through distinguishing between different industries. Taking into account the competitive and [...] Read more.
Regional industry synergistic planning contributes to the achievement of Goal 11 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The reasonable layout of regional industries is an important measure for achieving sustainable development through distinguishing between different industries. Taking into account the competitive and cooperative relationships between regional cities, this study created a Stackelberg model considering information distribution and fairness preferences. It analyzed the industrial selection strategies and influencing factors under the requirements of output maximization and profit maximization between regions. The model discussions and numerical simulation results showed that regional industrial planning and adjustment should consider both internal and external behavioral factors. The impact of information distribution and fairness preferences on the selection of heterogeneous and homogeneous industries varies. Differentiated industrial selection should be conducted based on output maximization or profit maximization. Furthermore, following cities should take the initiative to integrate into the industrial development plans of nearby large cities, and leading cities should effectively layout and optimize regional productivity. Both industrial planning and choice require the establishment of regional coordination mechanisms. By enhancing the level of mutual trust and reciprocity among cities, reducing information asymmetry, and guiding fairness preferences, regional industrial synergy is promoted, and conditions are created for sustainable industrial development. Full article
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30 pages, 3979 KiB  
Review
A Review of Sustainable Total Productive Maintenance (STPM)
by Anouar Hallioui, Brahim Herrou, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Ricardo S. Santos, Ona Egbue, Małgorzata Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek, Jose Miguel Soares and Pedro Carmona Marques
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12362; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612362 - 14 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3560
Abstract
Sustainable Total Productive Maintenance (STPM) arose in 2021 as a promising, new concept to fill the lack of sustainability in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and allow companies to overcome its implementation barriers. It revolves around increasing the understanding of the systems approach and [...] Read more.
Sustainable Total Productive Maintenance (STPM) arose in 2021 as a promising, new concept to fill the lack of sustainability in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and allow companies to overcome its implementation barriers. It revolves around increasing the understanding of the systems approach and contributing to setting contemporary companies’ sustainable ideology by supporting orientation toward sustainability from a sustainable maintenance perspective. However, STPM is still in its infancy and is viewed as a complement to the traditional TPM approach and is based on its pillars. Moreover, there is still a dearth of literature discussing STPM. This study aims to present STPM as a novel substitute for TPM while building its unique mechanism based on re-engineered fourth generation management (R4thGM). To pursue such a goal, 94 papers from Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases published in 2008–2023 were reviewed. This study’s novelty comes from presenting STPM as the best-suited lean manufacturing and sustainability strategy for enhancing sustainable maintenance, encouraging contemporary maintenance (i.e., Industry 4.0 technology-based sustainable maintenance), and supporting second-era contemporary companies’ orientation toward sustainability. Furthermore, based on recent studies, propositions are formulated to achieve STPM. Finally, research implications and future directions are presented. Full article
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20 pages, 2627 KiB  
Article
Proactive Operations Management: Staff Allocation with Competence Maintenance Constraints
by Eryk Szwarc, Grzegorz Bocewicz, Paulina Golińska-Dawson and Zbigniew Banaszak
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1949; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031949 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1443
Abstract
Highly qualified staff are the key to successful operations management in any organization. In this paper, the emphasis is put on the problem of planning the rotational assignment of work tasks to a multi-skilled staff to guarantee maintaining their competencies at the required [...] Read more.
Highly qualified staff are the key to successful operations management in any organization. In this paper, the emphasis is put on the problem of planning the rotational assignment of work tasks to a multi-skilled staff to guarantee maintaining their competencies at the required level. The aim of this study is to propose a novel declarative model for proactive planning of staff allocation whilst taking into account the forgetting effect. Sufficient conditions are proposed that allow for the cyclical rotation of employees between different tasks in order to keep their competencies at a constant level. The numerical experiments prove that the presented approach allows for finding a trade-off between a robustness to absenteeism and maintaining staff competency levels. The proposed method is suitable for human resource-related decision making in an interactive mode. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020

14 pages, 1170 KiB  
Article
The Theory of Exploitation as a Support for Management Accounting in an Enterprise
by Przemysław Drożyner and Stanisław Młynarski
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114305 - 01 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
In each company operating on the market, various business processes are implemented: production, logistics, warehouse, marketing, HR and payroll and many others. In enterprises with a high organizational culture, these processes are always measured; various indicators related to the effectiveness and efficiency of [...] Read more.
In each company operating on the market, various business processes are implemented: production, logistics, warehouse, marketing, HR and payroll and many others. In enterprises with a high organizational culture, these processes are always measured; various indicators related to the effectiveness and efficiency of these processes are measured and analyzed, and on this basis management decisions are made for the entire enterprise. The aim of this work was to verify the assumption that by properly defining the process of “exploitation” of technical objects (understood as the combination of the processes of operation and maintenance), it is possible to obtain information not only about the effectiveness of this process itself, but also about other business processes carried out in companies. For this purpose, the so-called “exploitation states” characteristic of technical objects used in two different types of small enterprises, i.e., mechanical workshops and taxi enterprises, were defined. Then, in two such workshops and three taxi companies, the time spent by the objects in defined states was measured, and the results were analyzed. We found significant differences in these values even for companies of a similar size and nature. After discussing the results with the owners of the companies, it was found that the differences resulted from different visions of the functioning of each company and—which is very important—their context. In the following, it was shown that properly defining and measuring the exploitation states of technical objects can be useful for improving not only “technical” processes but also most of the business processes carried out in enterprises. Full article
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17 pages, 1285 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Impact of Industrial Land Price Distortion on Overcapacity in the Textile Industry and Its Sustainability in China
by Xiaoying Ju, Huizhao Li, Peng Yao, Jianxu Liu, Fei Chen and Songsak Sriboonchitta
Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4491; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084491 - 09 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
At present, China is faced with a situation of unbalanced regional economic development. The report of the 19th session of the national congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that we should accelerate the implementation of the strategy of coordinated regional [...] Read more.
At present, China is faced with a situation of unbalanced regional economic development. The report of the 19th session of the national congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that we should accelerate the implementation of the strategy of coordinated regional development. However, this study finds that, in the process of “leaving the cage and changing birds”, the number of enterprises in the textile industry in the eastern region has risen again, which, in turn, has led to overcapacity and has seriously affected the sustainable development of the textile industry. The present study finds that the increasingly distorted price of industrial land is the root cause of the “surge phenomenon” of enterprises in the textile industry and overcapacity. Therefore, China’s central government should be fully aware of the negative impact of the distorted price of industrial land on the sustainable development of textile industry. Efforts must be made to solve the problems of the excessive influx of textile enterprises, overcapacity, and unsustainability in the eastern region in three aspects. Specifically, the land transfer procedure should be standardized, the motivation of local governments’ land attracting investment should be curbed, and the introduction of high-quality enterprises should be paid attention to. Full article
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2021

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020

17 pages, 339 KiB  
Article
Does Tax Incentives Affect Future Firm Value for Corporate Sustainability?
by Hyung-Jong Na, Hyeon Kang and Hyang-Eun Lee
Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12665; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212665 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1942
Abstract
This paper investigates how tax benefits for companies affect future firm value and current corporate performance. In addition, this paper also examines the relationship between tax benefits and future firm value for each major industry. The findings of this paper are as follows. [...] Read more.
This paper investigates how tax benefits for companies affect future firm value and current corporate performance. In addition, this paper also examines the relationship between tax benefits and future firm value for each major industry. The findings of this paper are as follows. First, tax benefits granted to companies improve current corporate performance. The effect of tax benefits that reduce corporate tax costs increases net income, which directly increases current corporate performance, such as ROA (returns on assets) and ROE (returns on equity). Second, tax benefits granted to firms reduce future firm value. Industries that receive tax benefits may have inherent taxation, which can lead to fiercer competition and ultimately lower pre-tax profit margins due to the entry of new companies or the increase in production facilities. In addition, tax benefits that cause temporary differences among the types of tax benefits for a company through deferred tax payments may be factors that hinder future improvements in corporate value. These causes result in the fact that tax benefits for a company can negatively affect its value in the long term. This paper has the following contributions. First, the findings of this paper imply that there is a limit to the positive impact of tax benefits on firms on improving corporate value in the long run. Second, through empirical analysis, this study provides objective information that the impact of tax incentives on corporate value may differ by industry. Full article
19 pages, 593 KiB  
Article
Complementary Development between China and Sub-Sahara Africa: Examining China’s Mining Investment Strategies in Africa
by Xiaoliang Wang, Danlin Yu and Chunhua Yuan
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11678; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111678 - 22 Oct 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2082
Abstract
China’s recent national and international regional development strategies emphasize both the deepening of the domestic market and the exploration of new markets and resource suppliers to support China’s industrialization. The cooperation with, and investment in, Africa has become an integrated part of China’s [...] Read more.
China’s recent national and international regional development strategies emphasize both the deepening of the domestic market and the exploration of new markets and resource suppliers to support China’s industrialization. The cooperation with, and investment in, Africa has become an integrated part of China’s international regional development strategy. Investment in Africa is often the result of a decision process that requires balance among local complex political, economic, social, and geological conditions. Proper decision support analysis is the key for success or failure of complementary development. Based on location theories, the current study analyzes China’s mining investment in Africa and derives a set of indicators to form the basis for evaluating China’s investment strategies in the mining industries in Africa. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach, the VIKOR method, is applied to evaluate six African countries based on this set of indicators. Results suggest that while resource abundance and value are important factors for mining investment decisions, political stability and local legal system restrictions are weightier in the decision-making process. China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in mining industries in Africa is more inclined to countries with stable political environment, resource endowment and greater value advantage so that both parties can maximize the benefits from such investment. Full article
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18 pages, 12274 KiB  
Article
Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications
by Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres, María de los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez, Celia Gabriela Sierra-Carmona, Luis Enrique García Santamaria, Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía, José Luis Marín-Muñiz and Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126853 - 17 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3651
Abstract
Conventional aquaculture (ACUA-C) in Mexico is an activity that maintains an annual growth rate of 6%. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture is the predominant aquaculture in the country with 4623 farms, most of which operate with semi-intensive (SIS) and extensive (ES) production [...] Read more.
Conventional aquaculture (ACUA-C) in Mexico is an activity that maintains an annual growth rate of 6%. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture is the predominant aquaculture in the country with 4623 farms, most of which operate with semi-intensive (SIS) and extensive (ES) production systems, discharging untreated wastewater that negatively impacts the environment. To address this problem, new ecotechnologies such as biofloc (BFT), recirculation systems for aquaculture (RAS), constructed wetlands (CWs) for water treatment, and aquaponics (AS) have emerged to mitigate the environmental impacts of untreated wastewater. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of tilapia farming with BFT, RAS, CW, and AS ecotechnologies through an economic and financial feasibility analysis, considering their environmental and social implications in a Mexican aquaculture farm located in the state of Veracruz. Open interviews, direct observation, and diagnosis of the semi-intensive tilapia system was carried out between 15 May 2019 and 15 February 2020 in order to calculate, design, and theoretically evaluate the four ecotechnological alternatives (TBF, RAS, CW, and AS). Economic (13), environmental (10), and social (5) variables were applied, making use of the same facilities. The results reveal that the four ecotechnologies implemented in an SIS are economically viable and environmentally acceptable, especially in water management, in addition to being socially feasible. It is concluded that BFT offers an alternative to the producer by having a lower additional cost to improve problems, despite the possible complexity of operation and energy requirements to manage wastewater treatment. The technological transition to BFT is recommended to solve the problem of sustainable water management. Full article
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10 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
Is Establishing a New Partnership Useful Information for Investors in the Smartphone Supply Market?
by Insung Son and Sihyun Kim
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105573 - 17 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
This study analyzed partner volatility (new, old, revocation partners) and country-specific signal effects (United States (US), Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea) for Apple iPhone parts suppliers from 2007 to 2018. Mid- to long-term stock price movements were also analyzed to define trading patterns [...] Read more.
This study analyzed partner volatility (new, old, revocation partners) and country-specific signal effects (United States (US), Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea) for Apple iPhone parts suppliers from 2007 to 2018. Mid- to long-term stock price movements were also analyzed to define trading patterns by investor type. The results using logit regression analysis revealed that new partners and revocation partners each have a signaling effect perceived as positive and negative information in the short term, and the excess returns by country showed a positive signaling effect in the order of the US, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. The findings also suggest that the change in the new partners’ stock price after the preannouncement of new products was useful investment information. Moreover, information asymmetry was found between individual investors, institutions, and foreigners. Results indicate that new partner selection in the smartphone market impacts corporate value and serves as useful investment information. Full article
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19 pages, 1981 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Logistics Management Maturity—The Theoretical Assessment Framework and Empirical Results from Poland
by Karolina Werner-Lewandowska and Paulina Golinska-Dawson
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095102 - 01 May 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3513
Abstract
Poland is Europe’s leader in international freight transport. The majority of companies in the Polish logistics sector are small-sized enterprises with limited human and material resources, which reduces their ability to implement corporate social responsibility practices. In this paper, we explore the logistics [...] Read more.
Poland is Europe’s leader in international freight transport. The majority of companies in the Polish logistics sector are small-sized enterprises with limited human and material resources, which reduces their ability to implement corporate social responsibility practices. In this paper, we explore the logistics solutions (tools and practices) implemented by companies in the logistics sector to manage their business operations through the prism of the triple bottom line (TBL). We assume that a company might achieve sustainable performance even if it focuses mainly on the implementation of logistics solutions for economic performance, as some of those tools and practices also have an impact on the environmental and social performance without being dedicated to them per se. We define sustainable logistics management maturity (SLMM), as the extent to which a company implements modern logistics solutions (tools and management practices) to improve performance with regard to the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Results from focus group research are presented, where experts have assessed the impact of tools and management practices in logistics management on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Then, we define the overall sustainable logistics management maturity indicator (OSLMI) to allow comparison and benchmarking between companies in the logistics sector. The maturity theory is applied, as it is a suitable tool for the positioning and benchmarking of companies. Through the conceptual model, we link the capabilities of a company (expressed by the application of the logistics solutions) with factors related to the company’s characteristics (size, business profile, source of capital), and the ability of a company to achieve a certain maturity level. The maturity concept is used here to measure the effectiveness of the performance of companies. We use a database of 190 Polish companies from the logistics industry to verify three research hypotheses. Bayesian statistics is applied to verify the existence of a relation between the level of SLMM and a company’s characteristics (size, scope of economic activities, and structure of capital). Statistical analysis proves that the size of a company and the type of economic activities it engages in affect its ability to achieve a higher degree of maturity. Full article
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24 pages, 1815 KiB  
Article
Corporate Sustainability: Impact Factors on Organizational Innovation in the Industrial Area
by Yao-Jen Fan, Shuo-Fang Liu, Ding-Bang Luh and Pei-Shan Teng
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041979 - 12 Feb 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4610
Abstract
In recent years, the principle of sustainability has received increasing attention in corporate governance, and corporate sustainability is usually achieved through organizational innovation. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that are critical for companies to influence organizational innovation when [...] Read more.
In recent years, the principle of sustainability has received increasing attention in corporate governance, and corporate sustainability is usually achieved through organizational innovation. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that are critical for companies to influence organizational innovation when promoting Industry 4.0. Our research analyzes the relationship between these factors and Industry 4.0, human resources, and corporate sustainability to investigate organizational innovation and its formative factors against the backdrop of the new industrial era. Integrating partial least squares-structured equation modeling (PLS-SEM), bootstrapping, and other methods, we discover that for companies focusing on promoting Industry 4.0, the most important organizational innovation that affects sustainability is influenced by customer orientation, organizational culture, and leadership style in descending order of influence. Meanwhile, knowledge integration capability (KIC) is more important than knowledge absorptivity. It indicates that in the promotion of Industry 4.0, the trend of sustainability led by the leaders is fading, and the customer-driven trend will become more and more obvious in the future. Full article
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2020

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

28 pages, 675 KiB  
Article
Impact of Strategic Cooperation under Competition on Green Product Manufacturing
by Izabela Nielsen, Sani Majumder, Eryk Szwarc and Subrata Saha
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10248; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410248 - 08 Dec 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2582
Abstract
This study explores the optimal pricing and investment decision for two competing green supply chains, both consisting of a manufacturer and an exclusive retailer. Our focus is to explore, does the strategic integration decision with rivals at the horizontal level or with partners [...] Read more.
This study explores the optimal pricing and investment decision for two competing green supply chains, both consisting of a manufacturer and an exclusive retailer. Our focus is to explore, does the strategic integration decision with rivals at the horizontal level or with partners at the vertical level have any effect on green product types? The results reveal the following insights: retailer-retailer strategic integration at downstream level leads to a sub-optimal total supply chain profit and green quality level for a development-intensive green product. Two competing manufacturers can produce products at a higher level if they are vertically integrated with respective retailers. Manufacturer-manufacturer integration at upstream level sometimes leads to higher profits and product quality level if cross price-elasticity of consumers is high. However, an opposite phenomenon is observed while they are selling for a marginal-intensive green product, horizontal integration can improve green quality levels, but supply chain members will receive a lower profit. Therefore, selection of green product types and strategic integration decision are interrelated to achieve the profit maximization goal along with the aim to offer products at a higher green quality level. Vertical integration strategy can outperform horizontal integration strategy, especially if cross-price elastic for green products remain high. Full article
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29 pages, 3551 KiB  
Review
Investigating the Theoretical Constructs of a Green Lean Six Sigma Approach towards Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Directions
by Amna Farrukh, Sanjay Mathrani and Nazim Taskin
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8247; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198247 - 07 Oct 2020
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5393
Abstract
Green lean six sigma (GLSS) is an emerging approach towards environmental sustainability in conjunction with operational achievements. The success of this approach is premised on an understanding of the different components of a GLSS program; being the determinants for its outcomes. The aim [...] Read more.
Green lean six sigma (GLSS) is an emerging approach towards environmental sustainability in conjunction with operational achievements. The success of this approach is premised on an understanding of the different components of a GLSS program; being the determinants for its outcomes. The aim of this paper is to investigate the various constructs of GLSS that play an essential role in achieving environmental sustainability. For this purpose, a systematic review of available literature has been conducted to evaluate the drivers, enablers (tools), and outcomes of a GLSS strategy as well as its critical success factors and barriers. Findings reveal that these constructs of GLSS as a holistic approach can facilitate an organization to better accomplish environmental objectives such as waste minimization, emission reduction, and resource conservation as compared to constructs of only one or any two of these strategies. Based on the analysis, an integrated GLSS framework is developed for environmental sustainability in addition to identifying vital research gaps and future directions. Full article
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13 pages, 4302 KiB  
Review
Operational Excellence within Sustainable Development Concept-Systematic Literature Review
by Daniel Wojtkowiak and Piotr Cyplik
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7933; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197933 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3638
Abstract
The following paper was developed with a view to identifying the relationship between Sustainable Development and Operational Excellence concepts and to assess the state-of-the-art in Operational Excellence within Sustainable Development concept. Highly unstable business environments and opportunities occurring in the market require a [...] Read more.
The following paper was developed with a view to identifying the relationship between Sustainable Development and Operational Excellence concepts and to assess the state-of-the-art in Operational Excellence within Sustainable Development concept. Highly unstable business environments and opportunities occurring in the market require a specific approach and knowledge to achieve success. It is the authors’ view that improvements in the delivery of sustainable results through social, environmental, and economic responsibility is possible thanks to modern management concepts, strategies, and tools. These activities and approaches, when properly incorporated, significantly support the functioning of businesses in a responsible and profitable way. This paper outlines a systematic literature review of the subject described above. The literature review has been conducted with the use of two databases: Web of Science and Scopus. The results of the analysis show that there is a visible connection between Operational Excellence and Sustainable Development concepts. On the basis of the review, one can notice a strong relationship between Operational Excellence and management concepts, e.g., Lean Management. Nevertheless, the input of the selected articles based on abstract analysis compared to the whole compilation concerning Sustainable Development shows that there is a gap. The authors believe that this topic is interesting and worth further analysis. Full article
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