HLTINF002 Process Reusable Medical Devices and Equipment Assignment
July 3, 2023
MDA10008: Global Media Industries Sample
July 4, 2023
Introduction:
The dependence of a business on resources is not an unknown fact in the context of business management. Research studies as well as literature have provided substantial indications of the trouble that lies ahead for business organizations in the long run owing to the limited quantity of resources available for business. The consistent expansion of the ecological footprint of the world has led to profound concerns about regeneration of the natural resources as well as ensuring sustainability. It can be profoundly noted that the linear framework for consumption and utilization of resources leads to the chances of detrimental risks for businesses as well as societies.
One of the prominent examples that could be cited in the context of the utilization of resources is the consistent depletion of precious metals from the earth’s crust due to the continuous mining that has been ongoing for almost 250 years (Bichou, Bell & Evans, 2013). The limitations of resources, increasing volumes of pollution, and waste alongside the formidable growth in population are considered detrimental aspects of society. Furthermore, these factors are also responsible for negative impacts from the perspective of business organizations on their competitiveness, sustainability, and profits.
Circular economy poses as a promising alternative to the conventional linear economy through the specific characteristic of effective utilization of natural resources which is also responsible for decoupling the economic growth from scarce resources. The effective utilization of materials is accountable for promising advantages such as safeguarding the environment as well as the creation of additional value (Carter, Rogers & Choi, 2015).
The creation of more value for business organizations through the effective utilization of natural resources is facilitated through cost savings and the development of new markets as well as the expansion of existing markets. Therefore business organizations have apprehended the necessity to assume a circular economy as a source for long-term competitive advantage, sustainability, and security rather than a mere illustration of the trust and reputation of the enterprises.
Company background:
The company that has been selected in this report to describe the practical implications of the circular economy is Dell which is a prominently reputed name in the domain of consumer electronics. The company specializes in the provision of personal computers, laptops, computer accessories, and tablet PCs with a wide-ranging customer base comprising the general public as well as organizations. The organization was formed in 1984 and has come a long way to become one of the most recognized brands in the domain of computing equipment (Chiu & Choi, 2016).
The organization has been able to face competition from the notable names in the industry of computers with a notable achievement of being among the top three PC manufacturers in the world since 2001. The specific products which characterize Dell’s presence in the international computer industry include laptops that are improvised consistently on the grounds of better customer-device interface. PC models of Dell such as XPS have made a notable impression in the product lines of the company thereby implying the competence of Dell to sustain itself in the context of the industry of computers. Apart from the PC manufacturing sector, Dell is also recognized for a wide assortment of services such as storage solutions, systems management, OEM solutions, and networking solutions which could cater to the business management requisites of specific enterprises (Dobrzykowski, et al., 2014).
The services for businesses provided by Dell are complemented by the efforts of expert and certified engineers which lead to the provision of application services, re-hosting, and support services. Over the years, the reputation of Dell has been primarily attributed to the clientele which comprises popular names such as Intel, Sapient, AMD, NASCAR, Seagate, and Google. Therefore, the significance of the circular economy could be evaluated in the practical context of the company which would be indicative of the effectiveness of operations and supply chain management of the organization thereby contributing to the prospects of sustainability for the company (Grant, Wong & Trautrims, 2017).
Circular economy:
The active involvement of organizations in large numbers directed towards the resolution of issues about sustainable development has been improving recently. The preferences of organizations to realize sustainable development could be supported by the favorable implications of a circular economy which are largely characterized by the effective utilization of resources.
The effective utilization of resources refers to the activities of refurbishing, recycling, and repairing products and materials which could facilitate the option of attracting a sustainable future for the organization (Holweg & Helo, 2014). Before the analysis of the supply chain and operational changes introduced by the circular economy in the case of a real-world organization, it is essential to apprehend the concept of a circular economy and the main principles associated with it.
The roots of the circular economy could not be precisely apprehended since they cannot be attributed to a particular author or a specific origin date. However, the origins of the term circular economy could be traced back to the 1970s owing to the efforts of innovators, academics, and business personnel. The limitations of the linear economic model in realizing sustainability could also be associated with the concerns of increasing consumption that lead to substantial issues in the future.
The production model developed in the context of a linear economy has been associated with limitations regarding sustainability due to the worldwide accumulation of waste as well as the escalating demand for raw materials. Some of the profound schools of thought that are used for describing the generic concept of circular economy refer to blue economy, performance economy, regenerative design, industrial economy, and natural capitalism (Ho, et al., 2015). The key principles which could be associated profoundly with circular economy refer to renewable energy, thinking in cascades, development of resilience through diversity, and designing out waste. Developing diversity could enable organizations to ensure varying approaches to utilize resources thereby improving the resilience of the organization to uncertain circumstances.
The particular initiatives of organizations to find out the possible sources of waste generation and the amount of waste generated could be addressed by designing out waste. This would lead to the establishment of precise guidelines and controls for waste management thereby leading to the production of minimal volumes of waste. The requirement for dealing with the considerable depletion of finite resources could be addressed through the development of a new economic framework that could create value, and facilitate profits alongside interconnecting the responsibilities intended for people, the economy, and the planet. The consistent surge in the activity of business managers and leaders in the context of the development of collaborations and novel agendas that could address sustainable growth serves as an appropriate platform for the promotion of a circular economy. Contemporary organizations face the considerable necessity to opt for a resource-efficient economy to ensure sustainable profitability in the future (Kauppi, 2013).
The concerns of organizations could be complicated further due to the issues such as volatility of raw materials and future prices as well as complex customer demands and competitive disadvantage. The definition of circular economy has been widely discussed in literature and research studies about the same with varying perspectives. On a generic basis, the circular economy can be characterized by the engagement of stakeholders across a wide assortment of industries that contributes to the stimulation of supply chains that can ensure maximum utilization of resources as well as value throughout the lifecycles of the resources. It is also essential to observe the environmental, social, and economic costs of goods and services since they are integral elements of the circular economy.
The different aspects of circular economy are supported by the utilization of renewable resources, effective utilization of energy in the production and delivery of goods and services, prevent negative impacts on water resources, safeguarding of natural capital, and minimizing the risks that arise in the context of finite raw materials (Khajavi, Partanen & Holmström, 2014). These aspects are responsible for stimulating innovation as well as creating prospects for sustainability in long-term growth.
The saturation that could be observed in linear consumption is liable for creating the need to form a novel economic framework. Furthermore, the strategic as well as operational benefits that are associated with the circular economy create the need to reflect on the limitations of the linear economy. Contradicting between the two types of the economy could be apprehended as a profound element noticed in varying research studies and literature. The linear model of resource consumption as compared to a circular economy could be observed as a profound characteristic of the industrial economy which has not changed considerably in many years after varying levels of diversification and evolution.
A linear economy is associated with the implications of enterprises dealing with applications such as harvesting and extraction of materials that can be used for manufacturing specific products. The product is sold to a consumer and is then discarded after fulfilling its purpose (Krajewski, Ritzman & Malhotra, 2013). The expected figures for the investment of raw materials in the economic system by 2020 are estimated to be approximately 82 billion tonnes which is considerably higher than that of 2010 when almost 65 billion tonnes of raw materials were invested in the economic system. Supply disruptions and higher pricing of resources are the prominent risks for business organizations that have been identified in the context of a linear economic system. The limited predictability of prices as well as the fluctuating increments in resource pricing has served as major pitfalls for business organizations alongside the stagnation of demand in particular sectors alongside the higher competitive intensity.
The contemporary economic scenario on a global scale can be characterized by the higher price volatility levels in particular segments such as food, metal, and non-edible agricultural produce which was profoundly noted in the initial decade of the 21st century. Some other trends that can be noticed in the context of the linear economy could also validate the prominent implications for business organizations to prefer circular economy practices (Mafakheri & Nasiri, 2014).
The other indicators of inefficiency in the linear economic model refer to slower growth in agricultural productivity, the risk to supply security, and prominent issues about the acquisition of valid opportunities to compete in certain local resource markets. Therefore, the concept of circular economy arises from the need perceived by managers in the context of the pitfalls posed by the linear economy (Markman & Krause, 2016). The prominent limitations of the linear economy are catered to by the circular economy through decoupling the revenues from material input. Furthermore, it is also imperative to observe the distinct benefits rendered by a circular economy, especially in the context of economy, environment, and society which differentiate it as a promising alternative to the linear economy.
Supply chain and operation management in the circular economy:
The considerable emphasis on the recycling and reuse of end-of-use materials and products has been the keyword for business enterprises in recent years leading to the formidable presence of a circular economy. A circular economy enables organizations to revise their supply chain and operations management frameworks alongside providing additional dimensions in the supply chain. The circular economy has become a promising opportunity for ensuring business organizations are suitable for the competition and sustainability concerns in the long term (McCormack & Johnson, 2016).
The considerable initiatives from major brands such as Nike and Renault in different industries for the development of circular products and services are notable indicators of the changes in the supply chain and operations of the enterprises. The understanding of the revision in global supply chain networks owing to the inclusion of circular economy practices has been observed as a major theme of research studies and literature. Supply chain operations are characterized by the elements of costs and throughputs which are furthermore associated with the concerns of two-way interactions in the downstream as well as upstream. The implications of the circular economy on supply chain management could be perceived explicitly in the adoption of lean supply chain practices which is itself a notable deviation from the conventional practices of the circular economy.
Lean supply chain practices are characterized by systematic phases which enable the recognition of sources of waste and eliminate all forms of waste and can be applied in the context of varying industries, organizations, or supply chains (Qrunfleh & Tarafdar, 2014). However, the efficiency of lean supply chain practices is limited on the grounds of the factors such as disruption of global markets and price volatility which has to be addressed through flexible methods that can be capable of addressing the impact of consistent disturbance.
One of the profound aspects involved in the transition from conventional supply chain management to a circular supply chain is associated with the extension of the time for which the material or product is used. Some of the examples of practices that could be observed in the context of supply chain and operational management in a circular economy refer to the improvements in the durability of products, production through assembling different parts of a product that can be reused later and increasing the consecutive cycles of repairing, recycling and refurbishing (Ross, 2015).
Impacts of circular economy:
The apprehension of the distinct impacts rendered by the circular economy in environmental, social, and economic contexts could be complemented by the support of the driving forces for the circular economy. The notable driving forces for the circular economy have been identified in the possible opportunities for growth facilitated by the same.
A circular economy is preferred on the grounds of beneficial outcomes such as reduction of waste, delivering higher competitiveness in the national economy, reduction of environmental impacts as well as opportunities to address the concerns of resource scarcity. The characteristic identity of the circular economy could be perceived in the particular aspects of circular design, core competencies, circular design, and factors for promoting cross-sector performance as well as cross-cycle performance and innovative business models. First of all, it would be essential to determine the economic opportunities facilitated by the circular economy since it facilitates the exploration of new and uncharted territories.
The reduction of waste involved in the industrial chain could be accomplished through reusing materials to the maximum possible limits that contribute substantially to the reduction of costs alongside limiting the dependence of organizations on resources (Schaltegger & Burritt, 2014). Organizations could perceive that the benefits of a circular economy are not limited to operational applications but also provide a strategic perspective that is aligned with the benefits of customers as well as the industry. Economic benefits are drawn primarily from the substantial net material savings, promotion of job creation and innovation opportunities, long-term resilience in the economy, enhanced soil health and productivity of land, and the depreciation in supply risks and volatility.
The estimates about the circular opportunities in product segments such as FMCG cite the prolific aspects of circular opportunities leading to approximately $700 billion of savings in net materials annually. The residence of more than half of the global population in urban locations is a profound indicator of the opportunities that the circular economy can provide to the social aspect (Schaltegger & Burritt, 2014). The increasing urbanization is responsible for benefits for the costs of collection and treatment of end-of-use material and asset-sharing services. Apart from the social contribution in terms of job creation, the circular economy is also characterized by opportunities for prominent impacts on the environment as well. The particular emphasis on the use of renewable resources, sustainable energy, and the recycling of materials could be assumed as a feasible indication of the reduction of the ecological footprint of the organizations in a circular economy (Schönsleben, 2016).
Circular economy in the organizational context:
The growth of the population on a global scale is indicative of a considerable rise in the share of the middle class as well as large-scale reforms in consumption behavior. The stance of Dell on the prospects of a circular economy is clear as it has emphasized the fact that every material holds significant value and the measures for designing out waste from the system. Furthermore, the organization is committed to ensuring that the transition to a circular economy is characterized by flexibility alongside impinging on the aspects of productivity and effectiveness for customers (Simchi-Levi, Schmidt & Wei, 2014). The commitment of Dell to customers and the planet could be explicitly perceived in the culture of Dell and can be assumed as a core dimension of its business operations. Furthermore, it is essential to observe that Dell has leveraged its technical expertise and resources to contribute maximum benefits for society, the environment as well as economy.
A comprehensive review of the circular economy practices Dell could be a viable opportunity to ascertain the economic, social, and environmental benefits drawn by Dell alongside a promising impression of the circular supply chain of the organization. The core values of Dell have enabled the firm to maintain an emphasis on the complete lifecycle while designing products. The organization considers the distinct stages of the product lifecycle such as reuse, recyclability, and repair in its product design to obtain the outcomes of flexible recycling options and smart material choices for customers. The closed-loop recycling of plastics is considered a profound example of the organization’s initiatives to realize the circular economy activities in its operational framework (Snyder, et al., 2016).
The distinct stages of the closed-loop recycling initiative of Dell include collection and recycling, sorting and shredding, mold and manufacture, assembly and shipment, and purchase and use. The closed-loop recycling refers to the circular supply chain operations and the particular aspects of the recycling could be reviewed to obtain an impression of the environmental, social, and economic footprint rendered by the organization. Closed-loop recycling involves the collection of plastic that has been recovered from technology which could be utilized again to improve the longevity of the plastics, reduction of costs, and limit the carbon footprint. Furthermore, it can be perceived that Dell follows industry benchmarks and precedents to obtain certification of its circular supply chain practices and is one of the leaders in inducing circular economy practices (Swink, et al., 2014).
The analysis of the net benefits earned from the closed-loop approach exhibits potential indications of the comparatively superior benefits of molded plastic rather than virgin plastics (Yinan, Tang & Zhang, 2014). On the other hand, Dell has also extended the scope of the circular economy beyond material choices and has implemented cloud services that are based on the principle of delivering technology to customers with minimal use of resources. The concerns of access over an ownership-based business model which is prominently noted in the circular economy could be observed in the applications of virtualization that enable customers to access newer technology without any requirement of ownership of new resources. Dell has been able to capitalize on technological features such as the Internet of Things (IoT) successfully to obtain comprehensive integration of networking, cloud services, analytics, sensors, and Big Data which could drive novel insights into the deployment of resources (Touboulic, Chicksand & Walker, 2014).
Some of the prominent examples of the initiatives of Dell to implement technology in realizing a circular economy could be observed in the smart grid technologies and The Pecan Street Project which are intended to communicate the intricacies of home energy usage in detail. The collaboration of Dell with Intel to set up the Internet of Things lab is a promising initiative for realizing circular economy practices that are characterized by opportunities for customers to experiment with new ideas, solutions, products, and software.
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Impact of the circular economy on Dell:
The initiatives for embracing a circular economy followed by Dell are characterized by potential benefits for the enterprise, customers as well as the surrounding context of the organization. It is inevitable to consider that the circular supply chain followed by Dell in its production process is likely to generate profound benefits for the environment. The environmental impacts of disposing of plastic waste generated from computers could be mitigated to a large extent due to the recovery and reuse initiatives followed in the circular economy practices. It has been estimated that the total volume of electronic waste generated in the year 2014 amounted to approximately 42 million tons and the predictions for the year 2017 are anticipated to be approximately 50 million tons.
The reduction of toxic chemical exposure and improvement in soil health could be held accountable as major environmental benefits of a circular economy for Dell (Vos & Levering, 2016). On the economic front, the company could be able to obtain feasible reductions in costs of production alongside inducing opportunities for better product quality for customers. The improvement of product quality alongside ensuring minimal usage of resources is accountable for notable prospects in the economic aspect of Dell’s operations. The provision of the 2020 Legacy of Good Plan of Dell is considered responsible for the indications towards utilization of substantial volumes of recycled material as well as recovery of electronic waste (Yahaya, et al., 2017).
The prospects of job creation that are associated with the circular supply chain of Dell involve employment opportunities in the recycling, recovery, and re-fabrication concerns of the supply chain. Furthermore, Dell’s circular economy initiatives are also inclined towards promoting innovation in terms of technology from the perspective of industry as well as customers which is a viable social benefit (Yang & Wei, 2013).
Conclusion:
Apart from the promising aspects that are noted in the circular economy for enterprises across a wide range of industries, it is also imperative to apprehend the path of transitioning into a circular economy involving recovery operations, reuse processing, controls, and data security. The report highlighted a theoretical perspective related to the concept of circular economy and described the practical implications of the same in the context of a real-world organization i.e. Dell. The report emphasized specifically the circular supply chain and its impact on the environmental, social, and economic contexts of an organization which expands the scope of understanding for the reader.
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