Enabling customer participation for the implementation of sustainable manufacturing

Abstract

Achieving sustainability has become an antecedent motive for numerous organizations since the last decade, and it has even accelerated with the introduction of sustainable development goals. Researchers and practitioners are trying different things to integrate sustainability principles in various fields of application, including manufacturing, which is one of the largest contributors to global GDP. This study investigates to improve the effectiveness of sustainable manufacturing implementation through customer participation. Existing literature in sustainable manufacturing is largely lacking with a stakeholder perspective, particularly with regard to customer participation. To bridge the gap, this study analyzes and evaluates the common enabling factors of customer participation for sustainable manufacturing implementation. Common factors have been collected and validated and the same has been analyzed with DEMATEL. Input for the study is taken from a case industry located in Saudi Arabia. Results revealed that among the 15 possible factors considered, ‘cost implications of sustainability' (E1) has the top position and ‘government regulations' (E14) has the least position in influencing customer participation in the implementation of sustainable manufacture. Finally, this study concludes by highlighting important contributions and opportunities for future expansion of customer-led sustainable manufacturing.