ABSTRACT
This chapter looks into how these six objectives (cost, quality, speed, dependability and flexibility, operations management) can be effectively managed, extending the 'lean and green' manufacturing practice to embrace life-cycle assessment and sustainable product design. Many firms engage in widespread sustainable product design to optimise natural resource efficiencies, reduce cost, simplify the operational process and stimulate innovation. It discusses the difference between traditional operations management and sustainable operations management. The chapter classifies sustainable operations management practices in different organisations and identifies different options for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12 'Responsible Consumption and Production'. The adoption of systems approaches, such as total quality management, lean and the theory of constraints, has enabled the operating frontier to move closer to the asset frontier, thereby improving overall performance. Adopting a sustainability perspective extends this systems view to consider the material and energy life-cycle as well as opportunities for sustainable product design.
