A Convergent Systems Approach for Sustainable Manufacturing

Sustainable Manufacturing is applied at product, process, and systems levels towards achieving sustainable consumption and production. Many present-day problems related to sustainable consumption and production are known to be dynamic, adaptive, and complex in nature and fall into the category of wicked problems. In general, only the events and consequences resulting from such problems are apparent on the surface. These are, however, akin to the tip of the iceberg whereas the underlying patterns or trends, system structures, and drivers, as well as the predominant social paradigms and mental models that are often root causes of such wicked problems, are invisible and untraceable. Understanding these complex interdependencies and solving complex problems cannot be achieved using conventional techniques or a singular domain of expertise. Challenges related to sustainable consumption and production are such problems that require contributions from beyond transdisciplinary boundaries to assess the potential underlying causes and for the implementation of robust solutions. To address this need, this research presents a four-phase framework based on the convergent approach to solving complex problems. An in-depth examination of the complex problem is presented in first phase, elaborating the underlying principles, tools, and techniques that could be used concurrently to identify the transboundary team to solve the problem identified and its operation is presented in phase two. The third phase presents the solutions generation process and the fourth presents the final solution selection and implementation by considering nexus of sustainable consumption and production, the product design perspective.