Development of Manufacturing Sustainability Assessment Using Systems Thinking

Anastasiia Moldavska and Torgeir Welo
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Anastasiia Moldavska: Department of Technology and Management, Gjøvik University College, 2815 Gjøvik, Norway
Torgeir Welo: Department of Engineering Design and Materials, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-26

Abstract: The existing body of knowledge in sustainability assessment of manufacturing indicates that although extensive research is going on, significant shortcomings remain unsolved. In this paper, the specific needs of a new sustainability assessment system are discussed. Systems thinking is suggested as an alternative to the reductionist approach which is commonly applied to sustainability assessment. Although previous research has recognized the potential of systems thinking applied to sustainability assessment, few practical examples have been demonstrated. Therefore, this article focuses on a practical application of systems thinking to the development of a sustainability assessment system of a manufacturing organization. A framework for development is proposed employing systems thinking. It is suggested that systems thinking reveals several aspects usually not addressed by the reductionist approaches. It is demonstrated that a combination of tools like analysis of multiple viewpoints, conceptagon, seven samurai, and model-based systems engineering can enhance a development of a suitable assessment systems.

Keywords: manufacturing organization; system-based methods; development framework; model-based systems engineering; sustainability assessment system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2015:i:1:p:5-:d:61073

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