Sustainable Manufacturing - A study of the business context and eco-efficiency practices in Chinese microelectronics firms

Abstract

Sustainable manufacturing is the implementation of sustainable standards in the Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly and End-of-life (MADE) of the manufacturing process. The significance of environmental protection and sustainable development directly cause more and more organizations and firms to take sustainable criteria into account in their manufacturing and management systems. China is a developing country, with the largest population in the world and the greatest development pace over the last few decades. The rising awareness of environmental problems and the increasing needs of sustainable design are demanding particular sustainable standards research for China. This thesis aims to examine the sustainable design standards in China and make recommendations for a sustainable plan for the microelectronic industry based on research. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used in this research. This research is based on a field survey in Beijing, Tianjin and Dongguan City of Guangdong. Interviews and questionnaire research methods are also included. This research found sustainable design standards in China are influenced by economic regime, public factors and environment protection concepts. The Government is short of feedback while firms and public have difficulty representing their own point of view –to build the communication and control system may be the first thing needed. Only 13.33% of the surveyed companies have official written sustainable design regulations. The significant economic, humanistic and political diversity of different areas in China require highly flexible and practical standards.