Identifying and Dealing with Interdependencies and Conflicts between Goals in Manufacturing Companies’ Sustainability Measures

Abstract

Companies are increasingly focusing on sustainable business practices. Internal and external stakeholders’ expectations manifest in legal requirements, national and international standards, and market and customer expectations, among other things, must be considered. In addition to profit maximization, which is the usual target for corporate management, management must consider environmental sustainability aspects such as resource efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and a company’s emissions behavior. In addition, social aspects related to the company’s employees, the immediate urban environment, the situation in the supply chain, and effects on the market environment must increasingly be considered. Specifically, companies are faced with the challenge of dealing with conflicting objectives regarding the various aspects of sustainability and, if necessary, weighing them up against each other. These trade-offs must be made against the company’s socio-economic and ecological environment, corporate strategy, and sustainability goals. This paper provides an overview of current approaches and research gaps on this topic through a literature review. It highlights the lack of methods and frameworks to specifically deal with trade-offs and conflicts between goals.

Gauging the Technology Acceptance of Manufacturing Employees: A New Measure for Pre-Implementation

“…It is widely accepted that industry is undergoing a radical transformation, primarily driven by a "demand for faster delivery times, more efficient and automated processes, improved quality and customized products" [1]. In conjunction with process improvements, factors such as "legal requirements, national and international standards, and market and customer expectations" are leading organizations to pay more attention to their environmental footprint [2]. Of particular focus are "resource efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and .…”