Cleaner Engineering and Technology (Feb 2022)
Organizational enablers for sustainable manufacturing and industrial ecology
Abstract
Due to the scarcity of resources, global warming, and rising energy prices, there has been significant growth in research and development in sustainable manufacturing. This has moved the responsibility of manufacturers to manufacture sustainable products in a sustainable manner focusing on product, process and supply chain waste during their life cycle. However, many organizations try to opt for this strategy, but due to price competition, focus on quality issues, and lack of integration of various enablers of sustainable manufacturing, organizations are not able to implement sustainable manufacturing strategically. The purposes (scientific value) of this paper are to (i) identify various enablers for sustainable manufacturing (ii) familiarize industrial professionals and SMEs practitioners with the sustainable manufacturing tools and practices (iii) enhance industrial ecology through sustainability gain (iv) enhance the organizational financial, market, social, environmental performance throughout the whole supply chain of manufacturing and product life cycle, for developing the better place of livelihood for the species and increasing GDP value of the nation (v) identification of associated future research directions. This study helps the stakeholders, practitioners and organizations to plan the strategic significance of each enabler for developing the pathway to achieve sustainability goals. This study contributes to a better understanding and holistic approach for sustainable manufacturing throughout the whole supply chain of manufacturing and product life cycle. It is observed through this study that for achieving sustainability goals in manufacturing, strategic holistic long-term streamlined planning along with top management commitment is essential. For sustainable manufacturing implementation, the roadmap has to be developed by the policymakers. Organization commitment for tools and practices is the key essential requirement for the successful implementation of sustainable manufacturing in the supply and value chain.
