We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Sustainability Assessment in Manufacturing for Effectiveness: Challenges and Opportunities
Summary
This review examined sustainability assessment methodologies in manufacturing, analyzing challenges and opportunities for improving effectiveness across energy, environmental, and economic performance dimensions at various manufacturing levels.
Manufacturing organizations continuously improve their energy, environmental, and economic performance at different manufacturing levels (products, processes, enterprise, etc.) using various assessment methodologies for visibility and a competitive market edge. Sustainability assessment has become the focus of the manufacturing performance measurement in the last decade and has triggered numerous methodological developments and adoption in practice. The assessment focus has broadened from process to enterprise-level, single to multiple parameters, fragmented to a holistic point of view, and local businesses to global sustainability and circularity. Increasing global environmental burden, resource scarcity, and human health challenges urge a shift toward effective assessment practices. This article critically reviews sustainability assessment practices in manufacturing from a methodological efficiency-effectiveness perspective. A clear distinction between efficiency and effectiveness practices has been discussed. The requirements and research challenges for effectiveness in the sustainability assessment practice in theory (academia) and practice (industry) is presented.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Green business process management for business sustainability: A case study of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Germany
Researchers assessed sustainability practices at ten small manufacturing companies in Germany and found that while many had green attitudes, most lacked the structured processes, governance, and monitoring needed to meaningfully reduce their environmental impact — suggesting a process-focused management model could accelerate progress.
On the Definition, Assessment, and Enhancement of Circular Economy across Various Industrial Sectors: A Literature Review and Recent Findings
This literature review examines how circular economy principles are being defined, measured, and implemented across industries including aerospace, wind energy, transportation, automotive, and sports goods. The study suggests that adopting circular economy strategies can help reduce waste and promote sustainability, though standardized assessment methods are still evolving.
Sustainable Textile Industry: An Overview
This review examines the environmental sustainability challenges of the textile industry, covering chemical pollution, high water and energy consumption, and solid waste generation at every production stage, while discussing strategies such as sustainable materials, cleaner processing, and circular economy approaches.
Sustainability reporting as a 21st century problem statement: using a quality lens to understand and analyse the challenges
This study argues that corporate sustainability reporting lacks rigour and comparability, proposing that quality science and quality management principles could provide a robust framework for standardising how organisations measure and communicate their environmental and social performance.
Sustainability Assessment for Wastewater Treatment Systems in Developing Countries
This review surveys sustainability assessment approaches for wastewater treatment systems in developing countries, evaluating economic, environmental, institutional, and social criteria. Researchers examined how different treatment technologies perform in resource-limited settings where emerging contaminants including microplastics are increasingly present. The study provides a framework for planners to select wastewater treatment systems that balance cost, environmental protection, and social sustainability.