721 research outputs found
Green automotive supply chain for an emerging market
Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-97).Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) within the automotive industry is largely based on combining lean manufacturing with mandated supplier adoption of ISO 14001-compliant Environmental Management Systems (EMS). This approach evolved from automotive manufacturers seeking to expediently expand green practices within existing lean supply chains. However, a new automotive enterprise, without the legacy issues of an existing supply chain, has the opportunity to customize its supply chain from scratch, to comprehensively achieve both financial and green objectives. This thesis investigated a more holistic approach to creating a financially-viable green automotive supply chain for the MIT Vehicle Design Summit (VDS) - a start-up enterprise planning to enter the Indian emerging market with a new type of eco-friendly automobile. First, a hypothetical VDS supply chain was postulated by analyzing the contextual challenges of the Indian emerging economy, so as to optimize the location, supplier selection and manufacturing models within its business context. To ensure that the capital investments needed to fulfill the supply chain's green objectives do not compromise its primary purpose of value creation, a Triple Bottom Line technique called Environmental Cost Accounting was used as a managerial decision tool, which demonstrated the financial viability of GSCM for VDS. Next, green solutions for each supply chain function were identified for integration into the hypothetical supply chain. It was found that many important green solutions for an automotive supply chain like supplier selection, concurrent engineering, cascading of lean production best practices to the extended supply chain, fuel-efficient transport practices and green infrastructure design, have already been developed by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.(cont.) Also, product recovery through End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) processing was identified as a vital green supply chain function required for closing the loop between sales and sourcing. The key issue was integrating these disparate solutions into a holistic environmental management framework for VDS to implement and sustain. This was accomplished using an IS014001-based EMS as the master plan. The developed EMS Manual is a pioneering document that leverages chain-wide participation in existing green initiatives like the Green Suppliers Network, SmartWay Transport Partnership and LEED Green Building Rating, to realize a green supply chain by ensuring continuous monitoring and improvement of the implemented initiatives.by Gene Fisch, Jr. [and] Tien Song Paul Neo.M.Eng.in Logistic
The relationship between green supply chain integration and sustainable performance
Green supply chain management (GSCM) has recently emerged to comply with regulations for environmental protection as a result of increasing environmental concerns over the past decades. Since manufacturing companies have often been charged for the environmental liabilities of their suppliers, there has been urgency for integration of environmental initiatives, not only within the walls of the company, but across the entire supply chain in order to ensure the company’s sustainable
performance. Consequently, Green Supply Chain Integration (GSCI) was introduced to integrate the environmental management practices within manufacturing companies, with the suppliers and the customers. However, there is lack of discoveries in terms of GSCI conceptualization. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify
the relationship between Green Supply Chain Integration and sustainable performance.
Specifically, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between supplier
integration, customer integration, internal integration, logistic integration, technology
integration, and dimensions of sustainable performance namely economic, environmental, and social. A survey was conducted on ISO14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) certified manufacturing firms in Malaysia. A total of 107
questionnaires was completed by the respondents and considered to be appropriate for data analysis. The data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. It was found that each variable in the GSCI is positively correlated with sustainable performance. Further investigation using multiple regression has shown that internal integration and technology integration to be the strongest predictors of sustainable performance. Apart from contribution to theoretical knowledge, the results would also be valuable in providing new insights to
management in their environmental goals and sustaining successful performance within the pressures of stakeholders, customers, and environmental regulation
Effect of green supply chain management practices on sustainability performance of ISO14001 SMEs
Malaysia has moved from agriculture-based economy to an industrial-based
economy. As a consequence, manufacturing has increased markedly over the years
that results 33.9% contribution to GDP. Literature have shown that of manufacturing
activities are responsible for air and water pollution, toxic emission, and chemical
spills that have created environmental issues. Globalization has increased customers
awareness about environmental issues that introduced business opportunities for
environmentally conscious manufacturing industries. Hence, manufacturing
industries are facing pressure from global market to improve their sustainability
performance by implementing environmental management practices. This research
aims to determine the level of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices
and investigate their effect on the environmental, economic, and intangible
performance. The research adapted survey research design using questionnaire to
obtain data of GSCM practices from representatives of Small Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in the study area. The questionnaire was adapted from previous studies, and
purposive sampling was used to select respondents. Data were collected from 120
SMEs to test the research hypothesis. The results showed that generally, there is
medium implementation of GSCM practices among the studied SMEs which results
improved performance. In addition, the results suggest that SMEs should strive to
implement GSCM practices from the environmental point of view. Therefore, results
clarify SMEs current state to assist both industry and academia on the way toward
enhancing performance. It is recommended that more research should be conducted
on GSCM practices and their effect on the intangible performance as limited studies
were found on this aspect
Circular economy in Italian SMEs: A multi-method study
Abstract Climate change, population growth, and current rate of consumption at global scale have prompted academic and business communities to challenge the current models of production towards more circular approaches. This study aims at understanding what actions small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are taking to meet the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy (CE), analysing actions, barriers, enablers and the connection between CE, business strategy and performance. This research involved 254 Italian SMEs through a multi-method approach, including interviews, surveys, and focus groups. Twenty different CE practices related to waste management, packaging, supply chain and product/process design have been explored. The results show that several CE practices are simultaneously implemented by SMEs, thus supporting the notion that CE implies a systemic approach to company's value creation. In particular, waste management was widely applied (e.g. separated waste collection was carried out by 84% of the companies surveyed), while resource saving practices were implemented by only 14% of the sample. Higher costs are the main barrier to CE for early adopters (5.13 on a 7-point Likert-type scale). However, companies implementing CE practices perceive them as a business opportunity rather than a cost, thus showing that CE may represent a source of value creation for companies, particularly SMEs
The impact of supply chain quality integration on green supply chain management and environmental performance
This study develops a model to investigate the relationships between supply chain quality integration (SCQI) (supplier quality integration and customer quality integration), green supply chain management (GSCM) (green purchasing and customer green cooperation) and environmental performance. The model is empirically tested using data collected from 308 manufacturing companies in China. We find that supplier and customer quality integration have positive impact on green purchasing and customer green cooperation, which improve environmental performance. Supplier and customer quality integration also influence environmental performance indirectly through green purchasing and customer green cooperation. The results provide insights into the mechanisms through which SCQI influences environmental performance, and clarify the complex relationships between SCQI and GSCM, contributing to the quality management and green management literature and practices
A critical investigation into the barriers and opportunities for environmental management systems ‘EMSs’ implementation for the delivery of environmental benefits to the Industrial City in Jeddah, KSA.
The first Industrial City (IC) in Saudi Arabia was established in Jeddah; it is now suffering from serious environmental problems. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) represent an internationally recognised tool developed to provide a systematic, self-monitoring approach for making continual improvements to all the environmental aspects of a business in line with local environmental regulations and standards.
This research critically investigates the scope of the implementation of EMSs in this IC, which necessarily entails assessing the efforts of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), which is the government agency responsible for environmental protection. This research also details the barriers and possible environmental benefits to be derived from EMS implementation. These objectives are achieved through a multi-method case study research design, involving questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. 183 organizations (32% of all organizations in the IC) participated in the questionnaires, and two sets of interviews were conducted: 14 with environmental managers in the IC, and 12 with officials from various relevant government agencies.
The results show that the basic requirements of EMS are inadequately implemented, and that awareness of environmental legislation (and compliance with it) is extremely limited. The most important barriers facing the implementation of EMSs in this IC include lack of enforcement of existing legislation and low levels of environmental awareness. The cost of implementing EMSs is a further important obstacle, particularly for small- and medium-sized organizations (SMEs). Nevertheless, although the main motivations reported were economic, adopting an EMS in full can result in measurably improved environmental performance, through reducing natural resource consumption (chiefly energy and water). Those with an informal or partial EMS also experience environmental benefits relative to those who have no form of EMS. Improvements to operational safety are another benefit to be derived from implementing EMSs. It also argues that the widespread adoption of EMS could greatly assist the government in its drive toward sustainable development and improved management of natural resources.
Accordingly, recommendations are provided to enhance the implementation of EMS in the IC as well as to overcome the aforementioned obstacles in order to effect changes towards achieving sustainable development.
Keywords: Environmental management systems (EMSs); implementation of EMS; Sustainable development; Environmental awareness; EMSs; KSA
Environmental management systems: An effective tool of corporate sustainability
The paper addresses corporate environmental policy concentrating on the current relationship of business activities towards environmental management in the Czech Republic. The pressure to adopt environmentally responsible behaviors motivates companies to initiate ecological practices, such as environmental and energy management systems, green balanced scorecard or green supply chain management. The efforts beyond the legislative requirements that are justified by potential cost reduction together with need for risk-based thinking, support investments into sustainable projects. This paper attempts to provide an in-depth view of the current enterprise practices and behavior in environmental management within the selected industrial sector in the Czech Republic region. Based on the mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches, the authors carried out structured in-depth interviews combined with a questionnaire survey with the aim to analyse the Czech environmental policy practices. A sample of 247 medium and large-sized Czech manufacturing companies was used for the survey. Three levels of environmental management system were identified: legal, basic and mature. The findings underscore the critical role of the management strategy approach and stakeholder requirements' monitoring. The research revealed that an important atribute in environmental activies in business area is the ownership structure. The foreign ownership has positive impact on the level of environmental management system adoption. The study makes practical contribution in that it explains the mature environmental management system concept and shows a possible path in the environmental behavior to companies not meeting the requirements of the mature system. The authors highlight also the need for awareness raising of business owners and top management to increase their interest in being more involved in environmental activities. © 2019 by author(s) and VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [VaVIP-RO/2018/03]; Environmental and energy risk management in relation to the triple bottom line concept within selected industrial sector in the Czech Republic [IGA/FaME/2017/016
Being 'Green and Competitive': The Impact of Environmental Actions and Collaborations on Firm Performance
In this paper, we seek to enhance the understanding of the link between environmental management and firm performance, so contributing to the debate of being "green and competitive". Relying on the resource-based view, we study the effect of different environmental management capabilities on a firm's market and image performance. In particular, we analyze the capabilities to implement product and process-related environmental actions with different types of environmental focus (materials, energy, pollution) and the capabilities to develop environmental collaborations with different types of actors (both business actors and non-business actors). To this aim we conducted a survey on 122 Italian companies. Results show that market performance and image performance have partially different antecedents. Specifically, a firm's market performance is positively affected by the capabilities to implement environmental actions with a focus on energy and pollution and to develop environmental collaborations both with business and with non-business actors. On the other hand, a firm's image performance is positively affected by the capabilities to implement environmental actions with a focus on materials and to develop environmental collaborations with non-business actors. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
SMEs and Certified Management Standards: The Effect of Motives and Timing on Implementation and Commitment
Existing research on certifiable management standards (CMS) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) tends to focus on large companies and is characterised by disagreement about the role of these standards as drivers of CSR. We contribute to the literature by shifting the analytical focus to the behaviour of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that subscribe to multiple CSR related standards. We argue that, in respect of motive and commitment, SMEs are not as different from large companies as the literature suggests, as they are guided by similar institutional and economic motives. Results, based on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified SMEs in Greece, demonstrate that later adopters are more susceptible to coercive and mimetic motives and are less likely to commit fully to the CMS requirements, while earlier adopters react to normative motives and considerations of internal efficiency gains and tend to carry out CMS requirements with greater diligence
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