Sustainable manufacturing: Exploring antecedents and influence of Total Productive Maintenance and lean manufacturing

Abstract

This article explores the environment-related antecedents and the influence of Total Productive Maintenance and other lean manufacturing practices on environmental sustainability. Since practitioners point to the environmental benefits of Total Productive Maintenance, a deeper study of the relationship between Total Productive Maintenance and environmental results can contribute to sustainability in manufacturing. In consequence, a review of the literature was undertaken. It was found that (1) the environmental antecedents have not been considered, (2) there is a lack of survey-based papers in the 'lean and green' literature and (3) Total Productive Maintenance has not been well addressed. To fill this void in the literature, this article explores the extent to which antecedents of implementation of lean manufacturing practices and Total Productive Maintenance are based on environmental sustainability (namely, on pressure 'to go green' from stakeholders and on an effort to achieve environmental certification) and the influence of Total Productive Maintenance and different lean manufacturing practices on several variables related to environmental sustainability performance. The research questions are tested with data collected from over 500 international manufacturing firms. Results show an association between the perceived degree of environmental pressure - or environmental certification - and Total Productive Maintenance (as well as other lean practices). However, not every lean practice is correlated with every environmental indicator. Different lean manufacturing practices seem to have a positive impact on specific operations, but it is possible that there is a limit to the influence of Total Productive Maintenance and other lean practices on environmental sustainability.