Sustainable operations and closed-loop supply chains
By: Gilvan C. Souza
Contributors: Business Expert Press
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Supply and operations management collection; 2012 digital library; Supply and operations management collection; Business Expert Press digital library
Publisher: Business Expert Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: [New York, N.Y.] (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017)
Language: eng
Number of pages: 146
ISBN-13: 9781606493700; 9781606493694
Subjects: Business logistics; Sustainability; BUSINESS & ECONOMICS; Industrial Management; Management; Management Science; Organizational Behavior
Description: This book is targeted to MBA students, executive MBA students, and middle to upper level managers in general (especially in executive programs). The book can be viewed as firm's journey towards sustainability, starting from zero. A firm that wants to be sustainable considers the triple bottom line when making decisions: it considers economic (profit), environmental (planet), and social (people) impacts when making decisions. By focusing on the triple bottom line (3Ps), the firm ensures a steady supply of inputs such as raw materials and labor. The first step towards sustainability is aimed at reducing waste in operations, with the help of such tools as lean and six-sigma (chapter 3). The firm then performs a life cycle assessment (LCA) for each of its main products and processes. LCA is a methodology designed to assess the environmental impact (such as energy consumption and toxicity) of a product or process through its life cycle: raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, packaging and distribution, use by consumers, and end-of-life. With a better understanding of the major impacts, the firm then implements actions that reduce its environmental impact (which in many cases also improves the economic bottom line), that is, the firm aims to be eco-efficient. Examples here include 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) initiatives, implementing an ISO 14000-certified environmental management system, reducing the firm's carbon footprint through energy sourcing from renewable sources, and green buildings, such as LEED certified buildings.
Notes: Title from PDF title page (viewed June 28, 2012).

Part of: 2012 digital library.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-142) and index.
Table of contents: title: 1. Introduction to sustainability and closed-loop supply chains; title: 2. Take-back legislation; title: 3. The first step towards sustainability: lean and six-sigma; title: 4. Eco-efficiency and metrics; title: 5. Closing the loop: design for the environment (DFE); title: 6. Servitization and leasing; title: 7. Closing the loop: remanufacturing; title: 8. Sustainability in the supply chain; title: 9. The other "P" of sustainability: people; title: Notes; title: References; title: Index.