Impact on the environment
Modern companies are encouraged to be less wasteful and more considerate of how they affect the natural environment.
Continuous improvement
A process of making small changes to improve the way a company works. is the practice of continually making small adjustments to production techniques to improve speed and quality and save resources. This process is known in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and services by the Japanese name ‘Kaizen’. It encourages people to work together and give regular feedback to make small improvements. This can increase productivity and create team harmony as all members of the team contribute, and everyone’s opinion is valued.
Efficient working
It is important to ensure that companies work in an efficient manner. This includes increasing the speed of production, reducing errors and reducing waste, which can be done by utilising Using automatic equipment in production. or The manufacture of a part or product from a computer aided design (CAD) using computer-controlled machinery, such as a 3D printer.. Implementing A set of checks intended to ensure that a product will meet the specified customer requirements once it has been manufactured. These procedures are followed before work is complete, as opposed to afterwards. checks ensures that errors are quickly spotted and provides the customer with reassurance.
Pollution
Contaminating the air, water or ground with harmful substances. is caused when harmful substances are released into the natural environment. Pollution can occur in the air, water or natural land. Legislation has been brought in to help with this issue. For example, in the UK cosmetic products can no longer contain plastic Small beads of plastic that are found within some toiletry products such as shower gels. The beads help to exfoliate the skin as the shower gel is rubbed onto the skin.. These were banned in the UK in 2018 for polluting the ocean. Harmful products, such as batteries, should be disposed of correctly, and companies are being encouraged by Benefits the governments can give businesses when they change manufacturing to benefit the environment. to recycle waste wherever possible.
Climate change
Manufacturing processes in factories or the use of day-to-day products like cars can cause harmful chemicals, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, to be released. These chemicals pollute the air and natural land.
Growing environmental awareness has encouraged countries to limit The gases responsible for global warming and climate change - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). and set targets for renewable energy generation. These actions aim to slow climate change. Some countries offer incentives to increase the use of electric vehicles, energy-saving devices, insulation and automatic shut-off devices. These can reduce energy use and emissions. However, other countries, including the United States, have faced criticism for inconsistent approaches to tackling climate change.
Image caption, Electric car on charge
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Product life cycle
The diagram below shows a The four stages a product goes through in a market - launch, growth, maturity and decline., highlighting the four different stages a product goes through in its life. Companies can use this cycle as part of their planning of products. Keeping a record of sales over time ensures money, materials and energy are not wasted when the product has stopped selling, lessening the potential impact on the environment.
- introduction - this can be the most expensive stage for a company due to paying for a new product to be advertised and launched while sales are low
- growth - if promotion of the product is successful then sales will increase as it becomes popular with consumers
- maturity - a competitive time for the company as their product has reached out to all customers and is becoming well known, but there is continued competition as newer products are being released, and the company will need to keep sales of their product high through more marketing
- decline - product sales decrease as new competitive products come to market and/or everyone who needs it has already purchased the product
