WMU News

Study of environmentally responsible manufacturing wins award

Nov. 10, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- A study of an environmentally responsible approach to manufacturing has earned a Western Michigan University faculty member a national award.

Dr. Sime Curkovic, assistant professor of management and a specialist in supply chain management, won first place and a $1,500 award in the 1999 Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral Dissertation Award Competition. The award recognizes outstanding doctoral research completed in 1998 in the development of theory or applications in the decision sciences. Curkovic will receive his award at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute Nov. 20-23 in New Orleans, La.

The national award was sponsored by the Decision Sciences Institute and Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Dissertations were evaluated based on originality, contribution to theory and practice, quality of research design and methodology, and clarity of expression.

Curkovic, whose dissertation linked Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing to Total Quality Management, says more manufacturers are turning to ERM systems instead of modifying TQM systems to deal with environmental issues.

"ERM makes economic sense for manufacturers," Curkovic says. "And it could transform the ways in which environmental issues are addressed by operations management."

ERM is a system-wide and integrated approach to the reduction or elimination of all waste streams associated with the design, manufacturing, use and/or disposal of products and materials.

Curkovic received his bachelor's degree in management systems from GMI Engineering and Management Institute, recently renamed Kettering University, and a doctoral degree in business administration from Michigan State University.

He was attached to Delco Electronics and General Motor North American Truck Platforms Group prior to joining WMU's Haworth College of Business in August 1998.

Media contact: Pauline Oo, 616 387-8400, pauline.oo@wmich.edu


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