Fuzzy-based sustainable manufacturing assessment model for SMEs

Abstract

Now-a-days, in the manufacturing, sustainability has become a necessity partly due to the threats created by traditional manufacturing practices, and due to regulations imposed by stakeholders. Sustainable manufacturing implies the creation of products that utilize minimum resources, has minimum negative impacts on environment and are safe for society at large at an affordable cost. This study proposes a fuzzy inference system-based model for the evaluation of manufacturing sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In order to assess the manufacturing SMEs, decision makers’ opinion of the importance of sustainability measures and indicators and also the performance of enterprise with respect to indicators are gathered using linguistic variables. An illustrative list of sustainability indicators for manufacturing SMEs is identified considering the characteristics of SMEs. The implementation of our model for a manufacturing SME identified weak areas of performance which require appropriate strategy to enhance the overall sustainability. Based on the output of this assessment model and further deliberations with decision makers, case company is in process of selecting an appropriate strategy to reduce the environmental impacts. This model serves as a tool to assists the decision makers in assessing various dimensions of sustainability within their manufacturing SMEs.