Title

Pollution prevention within a total quality management environment: A multiple criteria focus

Keywords

Hazardous Waste; Multiple Criteria Approach; Pollution Prevention; Total Quality Management

Abstract

Waste is a natural component of any production or industrial process. The long-term liability for hazardous waste and the huge expense in cleaning up earlier waste spills and disposal sites require a comprehensive approach on how to manage and reduce wastes. Pollution prevention focuses on reducing the generation and discharge of all types of pollutants, including hazardous wastes, at their source so as to avoid subsequent handling, treatment, and disposal. Approaches include source reduction, inprocess recycling, and reuse activities. Total quality management (TQM) provides a powerful framework that can be used to implement a corporation's environmental vision. The elements of TQM include a customer/stakeholder focus, a high level of senior management commitment, the active participation of all levels of the organization, a long-term focus, and approaches such as continuous improvement, empowerment, and a prevention-based approach. Since there are many quantitative benefits (e.g., reduced costs and liabilities) and qualitative benefits (e.g., improved public image) of pollution prevention, a multiple criteria focus is needed when applying pollution prevention. A Pareto analysis based on multiple cost factors that has been found useful in supporting pollution prevention for an aerospace company in California is described and illustrated.

Publication Date

3-1-1998

Publication Title

International Journal of Industrial Engineering : Theory Applications and Practice

Volume

5

Issue

1

Number of Pages

88-98

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

0032027470 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0032027470

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