Green Infrastructure and Manufacturing: Analysis of IE and SM Innovations for Future Generations

This paper focusses on SM, which is an innovation for the future generation of industries. In manufacturing, Sustainable Manufacturing (SM) is a significant aspect that deals with the functioning, designing, productivity, profitability and competitiveness. It is considered that future ecological and better ecological performance practices will base more in designs and manufacturing priorities for enhancing manufacturing developments and advancements. Decision makers, manufacturers and designers who have to practice more and launch sustainable cultures in industries will basically remain successful in their segments since there are a major necessity of the modern age and the future. Moreover, extensive research and analysis is require to future improve and enhance the comprehension of better ecological performance in industrial manufacturing.

Environmental turbulence: impact on UK SMEs’ manufacturing priorities

Purpose This paper aims to assess the impact of 2008 recession (Great Recession)-led environmental turbulence on the manufacturing small and medium enterprise (SME) sector and its related competitive priorities. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods research strategy, consisting of a survey of 104 manufacturing SMEs located in the UK, complemented by 17 in-depth interviews with senior management representatives from this survey group. Findings Senior managers have prompted a realignment of competitive manufacturing priorities accounting for external financial and market conditions. Differing competitive priorities post-recession are given to various areas of manufacturing decision-making, the greatest impact being on manufacturing costs. Manufacturing flexibility, performance in meeting customer deliveries and enhancing supplier selection are merited to increase priority with relatively little change for process technology, quality and environmental practices. Research limitations/implications The sample of survey participants was relatively small, therefore prohibiting an assessment of differences in competitive priorities by sub-sectors of manufacturing SMEs. This was offset by a healthy number of informative, in-depth interviews that provided a richness of examples and insight into the shifting priorities for the sector. Practical implications Clear priorities have emerged around reducing manufacturing costs, being more flexible in manufacturing and improving outward performance relating to customers and suppliers. Originality/value This builds on established manufacturing strategy constructs and points to necessary competitive priority realignment focused on the performance areas listed above.

Strategic manufacturing priorities for South African manufacturers: The need to shift emphasis and improve on current performance levels

The findings of an empirical research project show that the majority of so-called large South African manufacturers acknowledge that manufacturing-based strategies enhance the competitive capabilities and advantages of their firms and that this contributes to long-term, superior business performance and success. They also recognize that superior manufacturing capabilities will be prerequisites for the improvement on both their national and international competitive positions in the future. To better their positions in these markets, the manufacturers need to shift their emphasis (in order of priority) to: (1) high quality, low cost and high dependability, all of priority number (1); (2) high speed; and (3) high flexibility. they also need to improve on their current performance levels in all of these strategic manufacturing priorities by an average of between 20% and 30%.