Case studies of greening the automotive supply chain through technology and operations

Taking greening to the supply chain level (beyond partial, yet often used, reversed logistics) can be based on technological and operational initiatives in the sphere of design for recycling, disassembly, extended life cycles and future innovations and the related operations. The supply chain dimension is lacking in the most recent state-of-the-art contribution from Reinhardt on greening from a business point of view. In addressing that gap this paper aims to place greening technological and operations initiatives in a supply chain context. In two case studies of automotive companies greening attempts and approaches are assessed in terms of both supply chain practices and relations. It is found that the operations and technological practices in the supply chain are not yet fully developed to realize the strategic approach of greening. Suggestions for further management and research efforts are developed and the impact of greening technology and operations on supply chain relations and challenges are discussed.