Interplay between lean management and circular production system: implications for zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness, and social reputation
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 21 July 2022
Issue publication date: 22 September 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the interplay between lean management and circular production systems and their implications on zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaire-based survey methodology is used to obtain empirical data from Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs. A multivariate statistical technique, specifically partial least square structural equation modelling is chosen to test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
The empirical results confirm that lean management is a vital element in moving SMEs towards the implementation of circular production systems. The results also confirm that lean management and circular production systems combine effectively to bring about significant improvement in zero-waste performance, reinforce green value competitiveness and boost social reputation. The results further confirm the mediation role of circular production system between lean management, zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation.
Originality/value
Anchored on the tenets of the natural resource-based view theory, resource orchestration theory and stakeholder theory, this study proposes an integrated research model that builds new insights into the relationship between lean management, circular production system, zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation. The proposed model directs the actions of SME managers in emerging countries to comprehensively evaluate their production processes to equalize the possible compatibility of lean management and circular production systems to meet their zero-waste performance targets, gain green value competitiveness and stimulate social reputation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61304179, 71431001, 71831002), the Humanity and Social Science Youth Foundation of the Ministry of Education (19YJC630151), the International Association of Maritime Universities (20200205_AMC), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2020-HYLH-32), the Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund (2020JJ26GX023) and the Social Science Planning Fund of Liaoning Province (L19BGL011). The authors are thankful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions.
Citation
Afum, E., Li, Y., Han, P. and Sun, Z. (2022), "Interplay between lean management and circular production system: implications for zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness, and social reputation", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 33 No. 7, pp. 1213-1231. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-01-2022-0038
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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