A green-lean-six sigma model for environmental performance in manufacturing organizations : a study of a developed and developing nation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management, School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
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Date
2022
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Massey University
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Abstract
Manufacturing organizations continue to face environmental challenges including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, large-scale energy consumption, and solid and liquid waste generation contributing to climate change. While emerging environmental concerns are serious challenges for discrete and process industries in both developed and developing countries, the impact of these issues is more significant for the process industry due to their high energy requirements, GHG emissions, and lack of application of operational strategies.
Green-lean-six sigma (GLSS) is recognized as a promising operational and environmental improvement strategy for minimizing waste and conserving resources in manufacturing organizations. However, scant attention has been paid to examining this strategy in addressing the environmental concerns, and in particular, investigating its application between developed and developing nations. The aim of this study is to examine the drivers, enablers, environmental outcomes, and critical success factors (CSFs) of a GLSS strategy in a developed country (New Zealand) and developing country (Pakistan) context in the manufacturing industry. This study draws on the natural resource-based view, institutional theory-based view, and intellectual capital-based view to understand the execution of this strategy and develops a GLSS model for improving the environmental performance in manufacturing organizations.
A qualitative research methodology is adopted with semi-structured interviews using the case study approach. In the first phase, a preliminary study is undertaken with lean six sigma and environmental consultants from New Zealand (NZ) and Pakistan (PK). In the second phase, the main study is conducted with senior corporate managers of two large-sized flexible packaging manufacturing companies in both NZ and PK who have implemented the green, lean, and six sigma strategies.
This study highlights various internal operational and organizational drivers and external regulatory, market-driven, and society-oriented forces that prompt manufacturing companies to adopt a GLSS strategy. Numerous GLSS enablers for achieving environmental outcomes including waste and emission reduction, resource conservation and recycling, and environmental safety and compliance are revealed. Further, CSFs for the implementation of a GLSS approach comprising the strategic, operational, human resource, and external stakeholder-related elements are presented. By utilizing the results of the preliminary and the main study, a holistic GLSS model is developed for achieving environmental performance in manufacturing organizations, with significant theoretical and practical implications.
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Table 2.2 (=Kumar et al 2016) was removed for copyright reasons
Keywords
Package goods industry, New Zealand, Management, Pakistan, Environmental aspects, Six sigma (Quality control standard)