sustainability Article Climate Change Mitigation: Application of Management Production Philosophies for Energy Saving in Industrial Processes Angels Niñerola 1,* , Ramon Ferrer-Rullan 2 and Antoni Vidal-Suñé 1 1 Business Management Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43204 Reus, Spain; [email protected] 2 Ferrer & Asociados, 43202 Reus, Spain; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 29 December 2019; Accepted: 13 January 2020; Published: 19 January 2020 Abstract: Climate change is a fact. Global warming of the planet is a result of the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the cause of serious sustainability issues. The objective of this article is to highlight the potential of the Six Sigma methodology to reduce energy consumption in the productive sphere, with consequential reductions in pollutant emissions. We present a systematic literature review that highlights the increasing interest from academics and practitioners in using quality management philosophies for addressing sustainability issues. From the analysis carried out, it is clear that Lean is being used in this regard but the potential of Six Sigma is not being exploited. Taking advantage of the best of both approaches (Lean Six Sigma) can contribute to reducing energy consumption in industrial processes and contribute to mitigating the impacts of those processes on climate change. Moreover, through keyword analysis, we found that the three dimensions of sustainability are currently gaining importance in the literature, when previously only the economic pillar was relevant. Finally, we raise some questions for reflection for academics but also for practitioners, as the problem is a global problem that should be faced by all the community. Keywords: Six Sigma; Lean; operational excellence; process improvement; climate change; energy saving; sustainability; literature review 1. Introduction The need for energy and related services to meet the demands of human, social and economic development is increasing [1]. Securing energy supply while reducing its contribution to climate change are the two great challenges of the energy sector on the road to a sustainable future [2,3]. Global warming is not a prediction; emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), are threatening the health of the planet. At the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2015, held in Paris, 195 countries agreed on a plan to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (Figure1), with the aim of limiting the increase in the global temperature of the planet to below 2 ◦C (relative to pre-industrial levels). The link between CO2 and global warming has created the famous “greenhouse effect” [4]. The scientific evidence for global warming is clear [5,6]. More than 11,000 scientists from around the world recently signed a manifesto alarming about this fact and encouraging the public, policymakers and the business community to effect major transformations in the ways our global society functions and interacts with natural ecosystems [6]. The consequences of this problem will only intensify if we do not face the realities of climate change; to do this, humanity must achieve some meaningful solutions to address the threat of global warming. Furthermore, a key to success is companies that can improve their industrial processes to reduce energy consumption and thereby help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In fact, energy is one of the main areas emphasized by the manifesto. Sustainability 2020, 12, 717; doi:10.3390/su12020717 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 20 energy consumption and thereby help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Sustainability 2020, 12, 717 2 of 19 In fact, energy is one of the main areas emphasized by the manifesto. FigureFigure 1. 1.Greenhouse Greenhouse gas gas emissions emissions in in the the EU EU by by sector, sector, 2015 2015 [ 7[7].]. ThereThere are are several several management management philosophies philosophies for for business business improvement improvement that that can can help help to to achieve achieve betterbetter organizational organizational performance performance such such as as Total Total Quality Quality Management Management (TQM), (TQM), Lean Lean or or Six Six Sigma. Sigma. WeWe focus focus on on Six Six Sigma Sigma because because it is ait methodology is a methodology that allows that companies allows companies to improve to the improve efficiency the ofefficiency their production of their production processes and processes reduce and energy reduce consumption energy consumption by reducing by defects reducing [8]. defects Over the [8]. years, Over athe wide years, variety a wide of corporations variety of worldwidecorporations have worldwide implemented have Six implemented Sigma in the Six effi Sigmacient management in the efficient of energymanagement in their of production energy in their processes production and, as processes a result, and, they as have a result, reduced they costs have while reduced reducing costs while CO2 emissions.reducing CO DuPont2 emissions. de Nemours DuPont has de Nemours been using has Six been Sigma using since Six 1999Sigma to since improve 1999 variousto improve aspects various of theiraspects processes, of their includingprocesses, analysis including and analysis improvement and improvement of energy conversionof energy conversion processes, processes, such as steam such boilers,as steam turbine boilers, generators, turbine centralgenerators, cooling, central compressed cooling, air, compressed HVAC systems air, HVAC (Heating systems Ventilating (Heating and AirVentilating Conditioned and systems), Air Conditioned and manufacturing systems), and processes manufacturing of heating processes and refining. of heating They have and sustained refining. considerableThey have sustained energy savings considerable over time, energy with savings annual over savings time, of with over annual $250,000 savings being of quite over frequent, $250,000 surpassingbeing quite $2 frequent, billion in cumulativesurpassing savings$2 billion in 2002,in cumulative with 10,000 savings projects in completed 2002, with or in10,000 progress projects [8]. Forcompleted its part, or Dow in progress Chemical [8]. adopted For its part, the Six Dow Sigma Chemical methodology adopted in the 1998 Six toSigma improve methodology the quality in and1998 productivityto improve ofthe its quality processes, and launching productivity in 1999 of its a corporate processes, program launching to incorporate in 1999 a corporate it in all its program businesses to andincorporate functions, it achievingin all its businesses a cumulative and reductionfunctions, inachieving 2003 of $1.5a cumulative trillion in reduction costs. This in includes2003 of $1.5 its energy-savingtrillion in costs. program This includes in its Texas its andenergy Louisiana‐saving plants program with in savings its Texas of $935,000 and Louisiana per year plants [9]. 3M with at itssavings facilities of $935,000 in the UK per has year applied [9]. 3M Six at Sigma its facilities to a curing in the oven UK has in the applied production Six Sigma process to a ofcuring adhesive oven tapes,in the achieving production annual process savings of adhesive of 1,658,000 tapes, kWh achieving gas (29% annual reduction savings in of energy 1,658,000 consumption, kWh gas (29% and ovenreduction reduction in energy of 4.7% consumption, of the energy and consumption oven reduction of the wholeof 4.7% plant) of the [10 energy]. Other consumption notable examples of the are:whole (a) Baxterplant) [10]. International Other notable saves examples $300,000 inare: energy (a) Baxter costs International per year; (b) saves General $300,000 Electric in has energy reduced costs gasper emissions year; (b) General by 250,000 Electric tons, has saving reduced $70 gas million emissions in energy by 250,000 costs since tons, 2005;saving and $70 (c) million Toyota in Motorenergy Manufacturingcosts since 2005; North and America(c) Toyota has Motor reduced Manufacturing gas emissions North by 30% America per vehicle has reduced produced gas since emissions 2000 [11 by]. 30%Therefore, per vehicle improving produced since processes 2000 [11]. reduces the energy required to operate the manufacturing equipment,Therefore, so there improving are fewer processes CO2 emissions reduces and the less energy dependence required on non-renewableto operate the energy. manufacturing For this reason,equipment, the interest so there in are the fewer Six Sigma CO2 methodologyemissions and in less both dependence business and on academic non‐renewable fields has energy. grown For over this timereason, [12]. the interest in the Six Sigma methodology in both business and academic fields has grown overThe time aim [12]. of this article is threefold. First, through a bibliometric review analysis, we expect to identifyThe aim publication of this article trends, is threefold. the most relevantFirst, through journals a bibliometric where studies review addressing analysis, the we topic expect are to published,identify publication and the most trends, important the most authors relevant (and journals countries). where Second, studies from addressing a network the analysis topic are of keywords,published, we and identify the most diff erentimportant aspects authors involved (and (and countries). their evolution) Second, in from the studya network of sustainability analysis of