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Measuring energy efficiency performance of equipments, processes and factories is the first step to effective energy management in production. Thus, enabled energy-related information allows the assessment of the progress of manufacturing companies toward their energy efficiency goals. In that respect, the study addresses this challenge where current industrial approaches lack the means and appropriate performance indicators to compare energy-use profiles of machines and processes, and for the comparison of their energy efficiency performance to that of competitors’. Focusing on this challenge, the main objective of the paper is to present a method which supports manufacturing companies in the development of energy-based performance indicators. For this purpose, we provide a 7-step method to develop production-tailored and energy-related key performance indicators (e-KPIs). These indicators allow the interpretation of cause-effect relationships and therefore support companies in their operative decision-making process. Consequently, the proposed method supports the identification of weaknesses and areas for energy efficiency improvements related to the management of production and operations. The study therefore aims to strengthen the theoretical base necessary to support energy-based decision making in manufacturing industries

The paper investigates the effects of production scheduling policies aimed towards improving productive and environmental performances in a job shop system. A green genetic algorithm allows the assessment of multi-objective problems related to sustainability. Two main considerations have emerged from the application of the algorithm. First, the algorithm is able to achieve a semi-optimal makespan similar to that obtained by the best of other methods but with a significantly lower total energy consumption. Second, the study demonstrated that the worthless energy consumption can be reduced significantly by employing complex energy-efficient machine behaviour policies

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Addressing a global key sector area -the high technology manufacturing sector -we examine if there is truly a benefit of corporate social disclosure to the bottom line of organizations within this sector and if stakeholders should devote more attention to this strategic topic. Accordingly, we assess the potential effects of corporate social disclosure on financial performance, with a particular focus on employee and community aspects. This effect is examined for a sample of 405 companies operating within the sector. Additionally, we posit that the innovative nature of the sector adds a sub-plot and possibly exaggerates the effect of corporate social disclosure on financial performance. The study offers guidance to stakeholders on how actions in the CSR realm may potentially affect company performance within this sector, as well as providing direction on the impact improved disclosure can have on financial performance.