Environmental Sustainability: Just in Time Fabrications Company - Case Study Example

Environmental Studies By Name Lecture Name Name of class University Date Just in Time Fabrications Just in Time Fabrications, a steel supply company has issues that deal with the environment and operations. Various factors culminate to compromise its running. Factors discussed herein will include environmental sustainability, role of stakeholders and the significance of various aspects in running of the company. Highlight what factors the organisation should consider to help determine the environmental sustainability of its products Environmental sustainability is a vital aspect in any company. Sustainable products are those that provide social, environmental, and economic benefits while protecting public. Just-In-Time Fabrications (JTF) should consider various aspects to determine its environmental sustainability of its products. Solid waste and energy management, transport and human factor should be considered to determine sustainability of products (Claire and Alan, 2011). Assessment of the company’s solid waste management informs on environmental sustainability. Products disposal should be degradable and environmental friendly. Furthermore, inputs and raw materials should not pose threat to the environment. Such waste should not be water or air pollutant (Claire and Alan, 2011). Source of energy used by the company should be sustainable. The company can access the environmental sustainability by ensuring that the source of energy is environmental friendly. Pollutants in sources of energy should be avoided. The company should make a choice on economical and efficient source of energy. The energy source should also be recyclable. Lighting at various parts of the company can be used to ensure environmental sustainability. Mode of transport used to determine the environmental sustainability. The company can assess the sustainability of its mode of transport. In doing this the pollution and efficiency of the method is checked. Human factor is also included in the transport assessment. Personnel in the company should ensure that energy conservation is upfront (Claire and Alan, 2011). Determine who the key environmental stakeholders might be for JTF, and what part they might play in the company’s operations There are various stakeholders involved in the running and success of environmental sustainability. The persons involved should be give roles in the company. Major stakeholders would include; the community, the company’s management and the government. Everyone affected by the setting up of the company should be play part in ensuring sustainability is realized. Depending on the roles, they have and the context, the roles will be different. The residents who are part of the community can give information on any leaks and any harmful materials released. They could then report this to the company’s management. Furthermore, they would avoid going into any restricted zones. The school administration could also have a role to play. To begin with, the administration could fence the school. School going children could also be involved in the dangers of going to secluded and restricted areas in the company. The government is also a stakeholder in the company. The government plays significant role in ensuring environmental acts and regulations are adhered. Environmental personnel are employed by the government to ensure the company follows the federal laws. Furthermore, the government can sue for closure of the company if it fails to meet the set expectations. Finally, the government and the company’s management agree on set roles of each in sustaining the environment. The management is also a key stakeholder. What are the significant global and local environmental impacts of the company’s? a. Inputs (Goods, Energy, and Water etc.) b. Operations (Transport, Purchasing, Location etc.) c. Outputs (Products, Pollution, Waste etc.) Running and production in the company has various impacts on the environment both locally and globally. Inputs used in production include; water, energy and goods. Energy is important in the generation of products in the company. It is used for heating oil in the production chain. The choice of energy source has impact on the environment both locally and globally. The choice of the method would have an environmental effect to the locals. If the energy source is a pollutant then release of carbon in the atmosphere may lead to respiratory diseases among the residents. Furthermore, it will affect the global environment as it leads to global warming as the increased carbon in the atmosphere reduces the ozone layer. Water is significant in the company. As it is used for production, the company thus needs the river for supply (Venkata, 2009). The company also releases wastewater to the river. Water usage by the company may affect the local environment. If effluents from the factory are not well treated, it may lead to rise of infections. Aquatic life may also be at peril. The fish in the river might die in the case of poisoning. Operations within the company entail transportation, purchasing, and location. The choice of mode of transportation by the company has impact on the environment. Use of the road and vehicles may affect the environment negatively. Release of carbon by use of lead-based fuel may lead to pollution. Air pollution affects the residents by affecting their respiratory tracts. It may also affect aquatic life as well as growth and development of plants within the environment. Purchasing of products in the company influences the environment. Location of the company also has an impact on the environment. The site is near water bodies and this might thus affect aquatic life. The company might also affect the surrounding environment. Noise and air pollution may be present within its environment. Operations within the company may generate noise that affects the residents’ hearing ability. Air and water pollution may culminate to affect the global water bodies and affect the ozone layer. Out puts from the company affects the environment. Products include steel metals. Steel metals cause soil pollution if not disposed properly as it does not decompose. This affects the productivity in agriculture. The residents can also get cuts and bruises from steel. Pollution is always an issue in any company. JTF may affect the local and international environment through water, air, and soil pollution. Air pollution causes ozone layer depletion that leads to global warming (Albino, Balice, & Dangelico, 2009). Waste management is mandatory for companies. Water based waste should be treated well before release. Solid waste should be disposed of properly and recycled if possible. Could JTF be at risk of civil litigation from their operations? JTF could be at risk of civil litigation from their operations. The community may sue the company for litigation. The company has not properly secured the compound. The presence of holes in the fence makes it possible for unknowing persons to get hurt by the boiler. Furthermore, the noise from vehicles a cause of disturbance might also be cause for litigation. The residents might sue the company for this noise and receive compensation. Smells from the paint spraying body can also harm the locals. All these factors place the company a risk of getting civil litigation by the residents. How would the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 govern the organisation’s operations? The organization should adhere to guidelines by the 1990 Environmental protection act. Provision of the act entails issues of pollution. Under the Environmental Protection Act, depositing, treating, storing or disposing of controlled waste is forbidden unless under and in accordance with a waste management license (Environment-agency.gov.uk, 2014). The organisation should ensure that it does not compromise this. The company should ensure that they get guidelines from the act on issues of waste management. Statutory nuisance is another issue provided for in the act. A statutory nuisance is defined as premises, which are deemed detrimental to health or a nuisance, or are emitting dust, steam, smells, effluvia or noise with this effect (Environment-agency.gov.uk, 2014). The organization should use the provision to mitigate any statutory nuisance. The company should also be aware of the penalties involved with breaching the rules. The 1990 Act therefore provides guidelines to the running and operation of the company. The organisation is informed on what to partake in view of the act. The organisation is able to avoid legal action by adhering to the provision in the act  (Adlib.everysite.co.uk, 2011). The Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010) gives provision of waste management licensing (WML) and pollution prevention and control (PPC) to organisations. JTF can get guidelines to attaining waste management licensing. The company can be aware of the need to apply for permit. This will enable the company know the rules and regulations it will need to follow to follow to gain a license. Waste exemptions and permitting guidance can be checked. The company can get guidelines on making application by reading the regulation. Who might regulate the organisation and which part of the company’s operation they might be The government can regulate the company. It can order and standardize production and release of waste. Provision of environmental acts helps minimize noise pollution in the plant. The local authorities can also regulate waste management. Inspection can be done occasionally to determine whether the company is compliant with environmental expectations. How might these regulators enforce the relevant environmental legislation? Regulators can use law to ensure the company complies with set laws. Local authorities can use inspection and licensing methods to ensure the company adheres to laws. Furthermore, legal settlement is used in case of defiance (Epa.gov, 2011). Concisely, environmental sustainability is important in any company. The stakeholders involved in JIT should use all the aspects of sustainability to ensure that products and goods are sustainable. Stakeholders in the company should play set roles to ensure sustainability is realized. Effects of the company’s operation on the environment both locally and globally should be assessed. The company should comply with all acts and laws set by environmental acts. The company should use various factors to determine its sustainability. Local authorities and all stakeholders should undertake enforcement of these rules. JIT can ensure its operations are legal and safe to avoid civil litigation. References Adlib.everysite.co.uk. 2011. Environmental Protection Act - Summary. [online] Available at: http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/adlib/defra/content.aspx?id=18388 [Accessed: 26 Jan 2014]. Claire, K. and Alan, C. 2011. sustainable development, environmental management and graduates opportunities - solid waste management, water resources, energy resources, enenergy, transport and fuel efficiency information and technology. [online] Available at: http://www.businessballs.com/environmentalmanagement.htm [Accessed: 26 Jan 2014]. Environment-agency.gov.uk. 2014. Environment Agency - Environmental permitting. [online] Available at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/permitting/ [Accessed: 26 Jan 2014]. Epa.gov. 2011. Introduction to | Region 9: Enforcement and Compliance Assurance | US EPA. [online] Available at: http://www.epa.gov/region9/enforcement/intro.html [Accessed: 26 Jan 2014]. Albino, V, Balice, A, & Dangelico, R 2009, 'Environmental strategies and green product development: an overview on sustainability-driven companies', Business Strategy & The Environment (John Wiley & Sons, Inc), 18, 2, pp. 83-96, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 26 January 2014. Venkata Rao, R 2009, 'An improved compromise ranking method for evaluation of environmentally conscious manufacturing programs',International Journal Of Production Research, 47, 16, pp. 4399-4412, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 26 January 2014. Read More