The S-MC-S assessment model: supporting sustainable mass customization at all levels

Recently, the International Labour Organization released a report titled: “Working towards sustainable development: opportunities for decent work and social inclusion in a green economy“, Geneva- 2012, in which authors investigate the synergies between sustainability dimensions and argue that environmental degradation has negative impact on economic and social dimensions of sustainability, such as the costs of wasteful production, the destruction of jobs, and income loss. Moreover, the shortage of natural resources leads to escalating prices of goods including food and energy which exacerbates poverty and inequity. In this regard, green economy provides tremendous opportunities to improve all sustainability dimensions. The report highlights success factors of the shift towards sustainable development, the important role Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in this respect, and in particular underlines the importance of a comprehensive policy to push social considerations forward.

One of the recommendations is the development of integrated frameworks to measure and improve sustainability performance.

This is exactly what has been done in S-MC-S project. A key result of the S-MC-S project is an integrated assessment model (developed by ECN, SUPSI and PoliMi), addressing sustainable mass customization, although applicable also to conventional production and businesses. The assessment model is developed to support SMEs in assessing their current and future situations. It integrates economic, environmental and social life-cycle factors into a single framework, providing a comprehensive overview within the sustainability dimensions, and links this back both to the business reality as well as the product development activities. A link to business modelling supported by business related metrics supports the SME in taking the appropriate decisions, and further developing a sustainable business. The integration of the model within design tools ensures support to designers at practical level.

The model has been developed in close collaboration with industrial partners, and in the course of the S-MC-S project, will be further tested against practical situations.