Green and lean supply-chain transformation: a roadmap

Abstract

Green and lean are manufacturing management paradigms that identify new opportunities to improve the business to be more competitive. The purpose of this research is to contribute for the understanding of how to address green–lean approaches in a supply chain. The objective is to provide basic mechanisms to implement an organization’s supplychain based on an integrated green and lean approach. To attain this objective, some relevant initiatives for a green and lean transformation were considered first. Second, a multiple case study was conducted in the automotive industry to test qualitatively the several integrated green and lean initiatives and see how they are being implemented in the real world. Based on the literature review and the case study, an oriented-tool is suggested, which involves a roadmap to achieve a green–lean supply-chain transformation. The proposed roadmap can serve as the basis for further research in green and lean supply chain management, providing insights into the implementation of a green–lean approach.

KEYWORDS:

• Green management
• lean management
• supply chain
• case study
• roadmap

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by UNIDEMI – Research and Development Unit for Mechanical and Industrial Engineering [UID/EMS/00667/2019]

Notes on contributors

Susana Duarte

Susana Duarte holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. She is a research member of the UNIDEMI Research Center where develops their investigation in lean and green management. She participates in the project ‘Lean, Agile, Resilient and Green Supply Chain Management’ and she has published scientific papers in international journals and conferences proceedings. She was awarded with Excellence Award from Emerald Group Publishing and three awards from International Conferences. She is a member of the board of the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Engineering.

V. Cruz-Machado

V. Cruz-Machado holds a Ph.D. in Computer Integrated Manufacturing (Cranfield University, U.K.). He is a full professor of Industrial Engineering at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. He was the director of the Industrial Engineering Doctoral Program and other post-graduate programs in industrial engineering, project management, lean and green sustainability and entrepreneurship. He was the Head of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the CEO of UNIDEMI Research Center and the president of the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Engineers. Actually, he is the dean of the School of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.