Supply chain analysis of e-waste processing plants in developing countries.
Rahul Baidya1, Biswajit Debnath2, Sadhan Kumar Ghosh1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Summary
Electronic waste (e-waste) management faces supply chain network (SCN) challenges, especially in developing nations. This study uses multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tools to prioritize SCN constructs, identifying key issues for effective e-waste processing.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Operations Management
- Industrial Engineering
Background:
- Global e-waste generation is rapidly increasing, posing significant management challenges, particularly for developing countries.
- Existing e-waste supply chain networks (SCN) face numerous issues impacting the sustainability of processing plants.
- Effective e-waste management is crucial for environmental sustainability and resource recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prioritize critical constructs within e-waste supply chain networks (SCN) to address management challenges.
- To identify and analyze the key issues and challenges faced by e-waste processing plants from various stakeholder perspectives.
- To propose a framework for a holistic e-waste management system in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Combines two multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tools: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD).
- Utilizes the House of Quality (HOQ) to analyze stakeholder requirements and AHP to derive the degree of importance.
- Prioritizes constructs identified from literature and validated through field studies and case studies in India and China.
Main Results:
- Identifies formal collection, storage, semi-informal collection, and e-waste quality as major challenges for processing plants.
- Reveals critical SCN issues impacting the efficiency and sustainability of e-waste management.
- Provides a prioritized list of constructs crucial for improving e-waste processing.
Conclusions:
- The integration of AHP and QFD offers a robust approach to addressing complex SCN issues in e-waste management.
- Addressing the identified key issues can lead to a more holistic and sustainable e-waste management system.
- The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders in developing countries to improve e-waste handling.
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