Industrial Ecology and Environmental Lean Management: Lights and Shadows

Abstract

Current industrial production is driven by increasing globalization, which has led to a steady increase in production volumes and complexity of products aimed at the pursuit of meeting the needs of customers. In this context, one of the main tools in the management of customer value is Lean Manufacturing or Production, though it is considered primarily as a set of tools to reduce the total cost of the resources needed to achieve such needs. This philosophy has recently been enriched in the literature with case studies that link Lean Management (LM) with the improvement of environmental sustainability. The consequence is an expansion of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM); indeed, CIM, currently, combining and integrating the key business functions (e.g., business, engineering, manufacturing, and information management) with a view of the life cycle, does not highlight the strategic role of the environmental aspects. In order to deal with the increasingly rapid environmental degradation that is reflected in society, in terms of both economy and quality of life, Industrial Ecology (IE) introduced a new paradigm of principles and instruments of analysis and decision support (e.g., Life Cycle Assessment-LCA, Social Life Cycle Assessment -SLCA, Material Flow Account-MFA, etc.) that can be considered as the main basis for integrating the environmental aspects in each strategy, design, production, final product, and end of life management, through the re-engineering of processes and activities towards the development of an eco-industrial OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2014, 6 6363 system. This paper presents the preliminary observations based on a analysis of both theories (LM-IE) and provides a possible assessment of the key factors relevant to their integration in a "lean environmental management", highlighting both positives (lights) and possible barriers (shadows).

Proposal of a Sustainability Index for the Automotive Industry

“…This method allows an assessment of the sustainability of the supply chain and, at the same time, the opportunity to improve business performance The proposed integration could represent a best solution to achieve the sustainability in line with the Theory of Industrial Ecology [66]. In this context, the theory of Industrial Ecology represents a powerful analytical tool for describing the flows of material and energy that connect business and the natural world.…”

Learning on Lean Production: A Review of Opinion and Research within Environmental Constraints

“…Whitman et al (2008) presented the existing simulation based virtual factory and the application of modern production systems along with the integration of sustainability; Florida (1996) examined the link between advanced production & environmentally conscious manufacturing via survey, phone interviews and field research. Pauline (2009) studied the assumption that lean means green because of doing more with less, yet the evidence to support this is mostly anecdotal and the causal link is unproven; Thackeray (2008) expressed that the approach to eliminate waste, reduce cost and improve process has always been a part of what we can now call 'lean green thinking'; Rakshit and Rodrigues (2013) provided a broad perspective on combining lean with environmental sustainability to assist foundries in remaining competitive; Kyrö et al (2011) illustrated the similarities between lean & energy management and observed that the policies & practices bear a clear resemblance to lean principles ( Figure 5); Handa et al (2012) highlighted the interlinks between environmental issues & manufacturing strategies in enhancing eco-efficiency of manufacturing system and successful implementation beyond small standalone initiatives; Harrington et al (2005) investigated the factors leading to total quality environmental management driven mostly by supply-side & demand-side factors that originate internally within the firm; Dües et al (2013) explored that the implementation of green practices in turn also has a positive influence on existing lean business practices; Ioppolo et al (2014) presented the preliminary remarks for possible assessment of key factors related to their integration in envi-lean management; Jadhav et al (2013) explored green lean practices that assist in designing the structurally robust implementation strategies; Kidwell (2006) stated that environmental concerns are a part of the lean concept and air/water emission, generation of solid waste, etc. represents the waste of production; Li et al (2011) elaborated the concept of lean design, its application fields and indicated that it is the only way to establish lean enterprise that make comprehensive lean design.…”

The Effects of Environmental and Social Dimensions of Sustainability in Response to the Economic Crisis of European Cities

“…Concretely, the industrial ecology integrates environmental perspectives into production and consumption strategies with the consideration that environmental efficiencies, allow obtaining economic benefits [50,51]. In the industrial ecology, the dimensions presented in this paper are studied and assessed, using different instruments of analysis and decision support, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Material Flow Account (MFA), Input-Output Analysis or Exergia [52]. Water, carbon, and ecological footprint are presented in order to compare the level of sustainability and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is strongly encouraged in urban systems; studying the level of production of the cities linked with the quality of life [53].…”