Integrating lean systems in the design of a sustainable supply chain model

Lean based systems include several practices and tools that have the potential to facilitate an organization to be economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. The objective of this research is to integrate applications of lean systems in the design and planning model of a supply chain to improve sustainability performances of the overall business. The study defines and identifies antecedents, enablers, and ingredients of sustainable supply chain based on the literature. It also identifies practices and outcomes of Lean based systems that may be applied to supply chain functions in the perspectives of established sustainability criteria. Such practices and outcomes of lean based systems are then incorporated in the design of a sustainable supply chain to become enabler, antecedents or ingredients of sustainability to improve overall business performances. A numerical example illustrates the applicability of the approach.