Integrating Sustainability and Manufacturing Strategy into a Unifying Framework

The direction of current literature in addressing sustainability issues in the manufacturing sector highlights some models and approaches that are usually based on the concept of the triple-bottom line. However, as a functional unit in a manufacturing organization, the role of the manufacturing function in creating competitiveness has been outdone by the current demands of sustainability such that integrating sustainability and competitiveness remains a significant gap. This paper proposes a unifying framework in formulating a manufacturing strategy which espouses sustainability with due consideration of the manufacturing's internal and external competitive functions. The proposed framework integrates the features based on the classical theories of manufacturing strategy and the other features that must be considered to transform a firm's manufacturing strategy into a sustainable manufacturing strategy. This framework serves as a guide for decision-makers in identifying policies in various manufacturing decision areas that would comprise a sustainable manufacturing strategy. Results of recent empirical studies that are based on the models generated from the framework are reported in this paper.