Industrial System Dynamics for Environmental Sustainability: A case study on the UK Medical Technology sector

Abstract

This paper investigates environmental sustainability dynamics of an industrial system through a case study on the UK medical technology sector. This paper builds on an industrial system framework involving institutions, specialist firms, value/supply chains and industrial actors. Environmental sustainability dynamics are explored through infrastructure and structure factors of industrial systems that are primarily developed from theoretical domains of manufacturing systems, production networks and supply chains. Research findings suggest that structural components influence the industry system more radically than the infrastructural components. Environmental sustainability dynamics depend on the size of industrial actors, types/characteristics of product and process, and availability of specialist (funding/technology) firms.