The Green Manufacturing Executive Short Course considers the pertinent issues surrounding the green economy debate and why they are critical to the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is a key contributor to the world’s environmental problems. The technologies it has deployed, the materials it uses, and the complex inbound and outbound value chains it has created all have significant global environmental impacts. The course focuses on the different green discourses potentially shaping the future development trajectory of manufacturing, while also providing an analysis of the key interventions and strategies that are relevant to green manufacturing.
Over the first two days of the course, we will critically reflect on what green manufacturing is and examine the extent to which it really matters. We will also examine the role that competing economic ideologies have in respect of green manufacturing and evaluate the current status quo in relation to global resource use. The concepts of circular economy, green supply chains and measuring true value will be applied in the context of positioning green manufacturing as a business model to be followed to achieve competitive advantage. These core concepts will be reinforced by examining specific case studies. Emerging regulatory and legislative requirements are also focused on, as are new, evolving management philosophies relating to sustainable materials and energy use, product lifecycle management, and the ultimate green manufacturing objective: The establishment of carbon-neutral industrial activity. All these concepts will be synthesized into their implications for the South African manufacturing sector.
The first two days of the course lead to a reflection and consolidation day, where syndicate teams prepare simulated board presentations outlining a green innovation that can be implemented in a chosen value chain and its potential impact on an associated business model. The syndicate project, which builds over the first two days represents a core component of the elective. The application of learning is focused on, using a set of concrete opportunities and challenges based on the firms represented within the course. The third day will be concluded with a consolidation session. Feedback on individual syndicate presentations will be provided and a discussion of the immediate and long-term relevance of green manufacturing will be completed.
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