Exploring the congruence between sustainable manufacturing capabilities and Hayes and Wheelwright's four stages of strategic manufacturing effectiveness
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
ISSN: 1741-0401
Article publication date: 26 August 2024
Abstract
Purpose
As sustainability becomes more important in manufacturing, researchers recommend using the four-stage Hayes and Wheelwright (H-W) model of strategic manufacturing effectiveness (SME) to integrate sustainable manufacturing practices (SMPs) at a strategic level. However, there is limited research on this topic. This paper investigates SMPs encompassing four sustainable manufacturing capabilities (SMCs): pollution control, pollution prevention, product stewardship, and clean technology. It relates these SMCs to the four SME stages of the H-W model, both of which form a continuum of stages.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model on the congruence between SMCs and SME stages is first established using organizational theories to identify the dominant combinations. This model is then tested by examining 178 SMPs of four large manufacturing firms.
Findings
The study reveals that the SMPs of the case firms clearly show SMC and SME stage characteristics. Few deviations from the relationships established in the theoretical model are observed, leading to a revision of the model. A major finding is that SMPs within an SMC category can span multiple SME stages.
Research limitations/implications
The study proposes a revised model based on a small sample of case firms, which may limit its broader applicability.
Practical implications
Manufacturing practitioners can use the findings of this study to plan SMPs that align with their SME goals.
Originality/value
Towards incorporating sustainability in the H-W model, this is the first major exploratory study that establishes congruent relationship between SMCs and SME stages of the H-W model.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the three case firms for providing public access to their sustainability reports through their websites and the fourth firm for facilitating interviews with its sustainability and manufacturing managers. The authors also wish to express gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback and constructive comments, which has significantly improved the quality of this paper.
Citation
Pande, B. and Adil, G.K. (2024), "Exploring the congruence between sustainable manufacturing capabilities and Hayes and Wheelwright's four stages of strategic manufacturing effectiveness", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2023-0568
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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