Applying quality concepts to achieve environmental sustainability in the freight transport sector – reviewing process management and lean
International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences
ISSN: 1756-669X
Article publication date: 11 June 2021
Issue publication date: 23 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to revisit lean manufacturing and process management to review how these have targeted environmental sustainability and determine whether these have the potential to achieve environmental sustainability in small- and medium-sized companies within the freight transport sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology for this paper was divided into three steps. The first step involved a narrative literature review, including previously designed search strings. The second step involved a snowball approach, where the identification of new sources departed from previously selected articles. The third step included a completing narrative review to search for the most recent articles published related to the purpose. The analysis was based on the identification of benefits, challenges and the potential of lean and process management to deal with environmental demands among transport companies.
Findings
The findings suggest a potential of lean and process management for achieving environmental sustainability, if adapted appropriately. The potential is on the operative and strategic levels, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
This study included two of the concepts from the quality movement from a literature perspective. Hence, there is a need for research to evaluate these results empirically. Additionally, other aspects should be studied within the quality movement for achieving environmental sustainability.
Originality/value
This paper aims to be a basis and a path for further theoretical and empirical research for the quality movement to support environmental sustainability. This paper particularly aims to fill part of the gap in the literature on how the freight transport sector can enhance environmental sustainability in its operations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Author would like to thank Peter Cronemyr and Maria Huge-Brodin at Linköping University for their invaluable support in the path towards the development of this paper.
Funding: Author gratefully thank the Family Kamprad Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research and Charity for funding the research in which the paper is based on.
Citation
Navarro, P. (2021), "Applying quality concepts to achieve environmental sustainability in the freight transport sector – reviewing process management and lean", International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 545-562. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-02-2020-0029
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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