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Proposal of a Sustainability Index for the Automotive Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel F. Salvado

    (Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Susana G. Azevedo

    (UNIDEMI, Department of Management and Economics, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • João C. O. Matias

    (Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Luís M. Ferreira

    (GOVCOPP, Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering (DEGEI), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

In a scenario of increasing globalization, sustainable development has emerged as an attractive and strategic issue for both countries and individual organizations and their supply chains. Companies have faced different challenges in seeking to combine the best economic performance with increased social and environmental responsibility. Monitoring sustainability is essential for decision-making and management of activities that comprise an organization’s system processes. Evaluation can be performed using indices or a set of indicators. In addition to increasing organizational effectiveness and improving competitiveness, customer service and profitability, it is also a crucial influence on the development of business sustainability. This paper proposes a sustainability index that provides companies with information about their level of economic, social and environmental sustainability, showing their performance at both individual and supply chain level. The importance of the indicators is assessed by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology applied to a case study of a supply chain in the automotive industry. The various stages experienced during the construction of the index are also shown. The final results achieved are then presented and discussed in light of the objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel F. Salvado & Susana G. Azevedo & João C. O. Matias & Luís M. Ferreira, 2015. "Proposal of a Sustainability Index for the Automotive Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-32, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:2:p:2113-2144:d:45941
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    References listed on IDEAS

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