This research reports on findings from case-based collaborative research for green production equipment design and acquisition. Prevailing challenges as to why current production design included limited sustainability aspects have been explored and as a way out a Green Design Methodology has been proposed. A holistic systems thinking model applied and integration of sustainability (green thinking) which is viewed as something that is realized through iterative and continued process encompassing multiple decision hierarchies makes this work unique compared to previous studies that considered green design approach on product design. The proposed methodology is argued to provide a possibility to facilitate integration of strategic and project level perspectives through a cascade of components, and enhanced integration with equipment suppliers and other stakeholders.

This study explores the application of resource orchestration (RO) theory to explain the management of production equipment design in large manufacturing firms. It sheds light on a customized application of dynamic RO in the context of production equipment design projects through an in-depth multiple case study. The findings suggest that effective RO across a portfolio of capital projects and leveraging equipment suppliers’ capabilities is essential for effective achievement of operational targets early on. The study showcases a broadening scope of RO beyond boundaries of an organization (unit) to a portfolio of projects spanning a network of manufacturers.

Best practices in sustainability engineering have gained traction in recent years, reflecting the global urgency to integrate sustainability principles into product development. However, the impact of sustainability standardization on engineering is still weak. This study investigates whether a transdisciplinary approach is possible, i.e., if sustainability initiatives could build upon the groundwork laid by efforts to ensure another system-wide property – safety. Insights were elicited on entities and structures in product and process innovation communities through semi-structured interviews. Using an abductive approach these entities and structures are revealed not only as drivers of innovation, but also as what defines (safety and sustainability) practice that can later make its way into standards. This study thus augments established theory considering innovation systems, shifting the perspective to what limits the evolution of products and processes to contribute a framework for a systemic understanding of standardization efforts. By utilizing this framework, the comparatively weak infrastructure of sustainability throughout engineering activities, and the importance of intermediary organisations to sustainability standardization, are identified. Based on these observations the study argues for the need to, as safety engineering does, reinforce sustainability practice by requiring engineers to construct a logical case for sustainability throughout product development and manufacturing activities.

Energy efficiency is crucial for reducing the climate footprint, enhancing green transformation and improving the economy and energy resilience. This paper aims to identify and demonstrate gaps between industrial practices found in empirical case studies and academic knowledge of industrial best practices for energy-efficient manufacturing design. The paper uses empirical cases where environmental and energy-value stream mapping and Green Kaizen tools were used to analyse production operations, highlighting potential operational and design improvements in production equipment and systems, and showing there are still large opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in manufacturing operations, which can save money and reduce environmental impact. Yet, several inefficiencies are determined in the equipment and production system's design phase, which are challenging to change once the equipment is in operation. The secondary climate effect of energy savings in a Swedish context, where unused electricity can replace fossil-based electricity, is discussed. The paper contributes to theory by linking previous research findings with the current industrial challenges and opportunities for energy and sustainability in operations management. The paper provides results and knowledge to help the industry improve energy efficiency in production.

The electronic industry faces increasing pressure to enhance product sustainability across the supply chain. Understanding the environmental impact of electronic devices is vital for informed decision-making and meeting customer demands for eco-friendly products among growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures. This paper evaluates the sustainability impact of a Swedish electronic component manufacturer, TSS AB, specializing in temperature-sensing solutions, considering both the company's and their client's perspectives. Employing a life cycle assessment (LCA) and LCA software tools, we comprehensively analyze environmental impacts. Through a cradle-to-grave assessment, we evaluate production processes, reverse logistics, refurbishment, reuse, and disposal, identifying environmental hotspots for improvement. Additionally, we explore the influence of regulatory frameworks on incentivizing sustainable product development. Our findings contribute to the electronics sector's growing emphasis on sustainability, offering insights for companies aiming for net-zero emissions and circular product lifecycles.

Despite the availability of various tools, practitioners often lack a holistic perspective when conducting sustainability-related improvement activities. Existing Value Stream Mapping (VSM) tools that incorporate environmental aspects suffer from a lack of standardization and limited alignment with sustainability reporting standards. This paper introduces a framework for VSM that integrates sustainability indicators to assess and enhance the triple-bottom-line performance of manufacturing processes aligned with the global reporting initiative (GRI) standards. We validate the proposed framework through a case study conducted in a biopharmaceutical production system of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) that employs single-use technologies. The study highlights the critical need for collaboration with equipment suppliers to develop production specifications considering operational performance and environmental impact, thereby capturing a comprehensive perspective. By utilizing the proposed framework, practitioners can identify opportunities for improving the design and efficiency of production systems. The case study provides valuable insights into SMEs’ challenges when transitioning to sustainable production, particularly when product-related requirements impose limitations on sustainability improvements. Although the framework's validation focuses on a biopharmaceutical SME, it can be applied to manufacturing companies across industries to assess and enhance all three aspects of sustainability in their processes.

This study explores how human-centered digitalization can contribute to the flexibility and adaptability of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) production processes, resulting in more resilient systems. This study explains the relationship between digital technologies and production system features through progressively more human-centric stages of a digitalized manufacturing system. The authors present a case study of an SME that implemented a human-centric strategy, placing people's needs and interests at the center of its processes, leading to more flexible and inclusive production processes and consistent with the goals of Industry 5.0. The results suggest that a digitalized working method that considers human capabilities and needs can enable a more diverse workforce and the rapid setup of new and additional production processes, thus helping SMEs respond to supply chain disruptions. The findings have implications for managers and practitioners interested in driving or supporting the transition of SMEs to human-centric, resilient, and sustainable businesses.

Startups have to deal with scarce resources to be acquired from elsewhere and tight requirements to advance their innovative ideas. This study explores production competence as a reflection of a missing link from conception to efficient industrialization and the scale-up in hardware startups. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study consisting of an investigation of fourteen startups. Hardware startups working on discrete product technologies lack the technical competence, strategy, facilities, and functions to adequately address production issues. This implies that their challenges in managing and executing industrialization and scale-up activities impact viability and competitiveness of the ventures. Skinners’ missing link analogy has been used to understand the phenomenon faced by hardware startups.