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P. A. C. da Rosa and M. Feilstrecker
waste costs, social and economic effects, while minimizing environmental impacts
and maximizing the social welfare.
Over the past few years, the expansion of the environmental technologies market
has led to a consolidation in the industrial sector, both inside and outside Brazil, and
this area has received increasing attention. There has been an increase in sectorial
initiatives for supply chain management, as well as in the amount of integrated actions
among industries, joining efforts to achieve efficiency in sustainability, monitoring
and cutting transaction costs.
We propose a methodology in order to allow the collaborative qualification of
environmental services suppliers. This methodology was developed through a study
with a partnership between a university and a group of companies, which are part of a
network of industries in Curitiba, and contributed with their practical experience. To
develop the methodology, first were defined the categories which would be evaluated,
then, a tool was applied for classifying such categories according to their risks. For
those identified as critical (high risk level), a verification process was elaborated,
based on data and information provided by volunteer companies. The process was
validated by these companies, through work meetings at the University and the
practical application in three suppliers. The resulting methodology consists of a tool
for prioritizing categories according their risks and a verification process with a
pre-qualification and an on-site audit form.
This paper is organized as follows. First, we present an overview of sustainable
supply chains. Second, the contributions of environmental services suppliers to the
Sustainable Development Goals. Third, we give a brief description of a partnership
between a university and a group of companies in order to come up with a methodology for collaborative qualification of environmental service suppliers. Last, we
present the steps for the elaboration of the qualification process, as well as a brief
conclusion on the achieved results.
2 Sustainable Supply Chains
According to Pal et al. (2013) at high technology firms, purchased materials and
services represent the largest percentage of the total product cost. Therefore, selecting the right suppliers is important to procurement process, and represents a major
opportunity to reduce costs and risks.
Companies have learned that the traditional approach to supplier selection, on the
basis of price, quality, delivery and service, is not efficient. They have turned into a
more complex multi-criteria approach, that consider environmental, social, political
and customer satisfaction (PAL et al. 2013).
According to Hassini et al. (2012, p. 2) sustainable supply chain is “the management of supply chain operations, resources, information and budgets in a way that
maximizes profitability, while minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing the
social well-being…” considering the concept according to which social well-being
is the relationship with employees, clients and the community in general.
P. A. C. da Rosa and M. Feilstrecker
waste costs, social and economic effects, while minimizing environmental impacts
and maximizing the social welfare.
Over the past few years, the expansion of the environmental technologies market
has led to a consolidation in the industrial sector, both inside and outside Brazil, and
this area has received increasing attention. There has been an increase in sectorial
initiatives for supply chain management, as well as in the amount of integrated actions
among industries, joining efforts to achieve efficiency in sustainability, monitoring
and cutting transaction costs.
We propose a methodology in order to allow the collaborative qualification of
environmental services suppliers. This methodology was developed through a study
with a partnership between a university and a group of companies, which are part of a
network of industries in Curitiba, and contributed with their practical experience. To
develop the methodology, first were defined the categories which would be evaluated,
then, a tool was applied for classifying such categories according to their risks. For
those identified as critical (high risk level), a verification process was elaborated,
based on data and information provided by volunteer companies. The process was
validated by these companies, through work meetings at the University and the
practical application in three suppliers. The resulting methodology consists of a tool
for prioritizing categories according their risks and a verification process with a
pre-qualification and an on-site audit form.
This paper is organized as follows. First, we present an overview of sustainable
supply chains. Second, the contributions of environmental services suppliers to the
Sustainable Development Goals. Third, we give a brief description of a partnership
between a university and a group of companies in order to come up with a methodology for collaborative qualification of environmental service suppliers. Last, we
present the steps for the elaboration of the qualification process, as well as a brief
conclusion on the achieved results.
2 Sustainable Supply Chains
According to Pal et al. (2013) at high technology firms, purchased materials and
services represent the largest percentage of the total product cost. Therefore, selecting the right suppliers is important to procurement process, and represents a major
opportunity to reduce costs and risks.
Companies have learned that the traditional approach to supplier selection, on the
basis of price, quality, delivery and service, is not efficient. They have turned into a
more complex multi-criteria approach, that consider environmental, social, political
and customer satisfaction (PAL et al. 2013).
According to Hassini et al. (2012, p. 2) sustainable supply chain is “the management of supply chain operations, resources, information and budgets in a way that
maximizes profitability, while minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing the
social well-being…” considering the concept according to which social well-being
is the relationship with employees, clients and the community in general.