102
3 From Process Integration to Sustainable Supply
Chain and Product Management
Companies that successfully embedded life cycle approaches in business processes
have increased the business value of sustainability. According to our approach,
companies run through a maturity curve (Fig. 8.1 ), with more or less external
support. To enhance stepwise success and business value with sustainability the
maturity curve can be entered at any point. Importantly it is not where a company
starts, but to know the pathway and the next step. Solutions are needed that are able
to bring a company effi ciently further without expensive rework or duplicating
effort.
IT solutions are key to drive the value of sustainability approaches. Merging
sustainability aspects, compliance aspects and supply chain aspects under one platform approach is most promising.
Data is the foundation. Actuals as well as targets are important. The business
value must be very clear: top line, bottom line and risks involved. Sustainability
must be executed; a tangible example is the approach presented: screen, scope,
scale. It is important to converge organization and product performance. Therefore
it is important to combine materials compliance, risk and sustainability management. Collaboration is important; not only internal, but also to stakeholders, the
supply chain and customers. Design for sustainability must be done early and must
be solved upstream, not downstream.
Fig. 8.1 The maturity curve of increasing business value
M. Baitz
3 From Process Integration to Sustainable Supply
Chain and Product Management
Companies that successfully embedded life cycle approaches in business processes
have increased the business value of sustainability. According to our approach,
companies run through a maturity curve (Fig. 8.1 ), with more or less external
support. To enhance stepwise success and business value with sustainability the
maturity curve can be entered at any point. Importantly it is not where a company
starts, but to know the pathway and the next step. Solutions are needed that are able
to bring a company effi ciently further without expensive rework or duplicating
effort.
IT solutions are key to drive the value of sustainability approaches. Merging
sustainability aspects, compliance aspects and supply chain aspects under one platform approach is most promising.
Data is the foundation. Actuals as well as targets are important. The business
value must be very clear: top line, bottom line and risks involved. Sustainability
must be executed; a tangible example is the approach presented: screen, scope,
scale. It is important to converge organization and product performance. Therefore
it is important to combine materials compliance, risk and sustainability management. Collaboration is important; not only internal, but also to stakeholders, the
supply chain and customers. Design for sustainability must be done early and must
be solved upstream, not downstream.
Fig. 8.1 The maturity curve of increasing business value
M. Baitz