Pollution Prevention Cost Savings Using Supply Chain Reengineering

摘要

Supply chain management was explored as a tool to prevent hazardous waste and reduce operating costs. Previous research had shown that pollution prevention measures were often costly and no expectation of cost savings could be realized. The reengineering of the Air Force hazardous material supply chain brought about by the Hazardous Material Pharmacy Program was tested to evaluate if hazardous waste had been precluded in this effort and if costs had also been avoided. To date, no research had explored the use of supply chain management as a source reducer of hazardous waste. Consequently, little was known or understood of the effects that the use of this management system would have on preventing pollution. This thesis examined whether or not a reengineering was accomplished, if the reengineering resulted in reduced hazardous waste and if the reengineering reduced inventory costs. The results of the study provide evidence that supply chain reengineering occurred in the Air Force hazardous material supply chain, that the reengineering reduced hazardous waste, and that it precluded costs.