Identification and assessment of transitory environmental sustainability risks in manufacturing: industrial applicability and economic viability

Sustainability regulations, customer expectations, and technology developments pose transitory environmental sustainability risks for the manufacturing industry emphasizing the need for manufacturers to align their operations with environmental standards and regulatory guidelines. This paper explores the industrial application and evaluation of a novel methodology that aims to identify and assess transitory environmental sustainability risks in manufacturing processes. Building upon the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), this study assesses the methodology's applicability and economic viability in a real-world setting: the manufacturing of surveillance cameras by a German multinational engineering and technology company. The paper demonstrates how the methodology can be adapted to the specific manufacturing processes of surveillance cameras, highlighting its flexibility and relevance across various manufacturing sectors. It provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental sustainability risks encountered in the surveillance camera production line and evaluates the economic implications of implementing sustainability risk identification and assessment strategies. The results provide insights into the effectiveness of the methodology in improving sustainability practices while ensuring economic feasibility. This study contributes to the field of sustainable manufacturing by showcasing the practical implementation of a robust methodology for sustainability risk assessment.