Manufacturing Strategy and Environmental Consciousness

Ecological and environmental issues are playing a larger role in corporate and manufacturing strategies. Global and domestic environmental regulations and laws are forcing many organizations to consider environmental impacts of all functions, business processes and products. In this paper the environmental consciousness issues pertaining to manufacturing and operations management are presented. A general strategic framework on how to manage environmentally conscious programs and projects in a manufacturing enterprise is also developed and discussed. A number of research initiatives that need to be pursued are identified. The pursuit of these research initiatives will alleviate many of the barriers to adoption of environmentally conscious manufacturing strategies.