Value-added innovation in infrastructure systems, lessons learned from wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Purpose Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are evolving toward sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how innovation can develop these mission-based service industries to value-added manufacturing enterprises. Here, innovation is embedded in altering the understanding of stakeholders toward the objectives and managerial systems of these infrastructures. Design/methodology/approach This study uses multidisciplinary principles in management, economics and engineering to assess the integration of innovation and quality management with different perspectives. It initially compares the conventional and innovative approach for operating WWTPs. Subsequently, it emphasizes the contribution of the tailor-made managerial system of wastewater treatment enterprises through prospective markets, customers’ preferences, probable competitions and shared values. Findings The tailor-made managerial system for wastewater treatment can add economic values by manufacturing multiple demand products for local markets. Water, green energy, organic fertilizers and raw materials are the main products that can be simultaneously recovered according to the customers’ demand. The Kano model also verifies that the new managerial system has this potential to turn the conventional must-be treatment systems into delightful enterprises. It can provide different stakeholders with shared social and environmental values. Accordingly, locals and customers can be engaged in monitoring the quality of products to consider their feedback for decision making and upgrading. This indirectly defines shared values among operators and society to reinforce localization and ecosystem protection. Additionally, this research reveals that the market of the aforementioned strategic products is promising as a blue ocean for set sail due to the lack of competitors. Originality/value This study introduces wastewater treatment as a promising enterprise for integrating innovation and quality management.

Performance evaluation of wastewater treatment plants under the sewage variations imposed by COVID-19 spread prevention actions

“…It is good news for the users of the productions of WWTPs. Jamshidi (2019) concluded that WWTPs can be introduced as reliable urban infrastructures with added values if they are tailor-made, designed and upgraded for local requirements in water, energy and fertilizers [27]. Therefore, even in pandemic periods, WWTPs can be reliable, particularly if appropriate treatment units are used.…”

Cleaner production through open innovation in Indonesian batik small and medium enterprises (SME)

“…The progress of innovation in water and wastewater industry is rather slow in comparison with other economic sectors. Capital intensity, operating costs, probable environmental risks, in addition to the administrative and regulatory constraints, are some major barriers (Jamshidi et al, 2019). Innovation is considered as a salient driver in implementing cleaner production in SMEs (Eder, 2003;Silvestre and Neto, 2014).…”