IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i3p468-d93615.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improvement of Certified Artisan Cheese Production through Systemic Analysis— Serra da Estrela PDO

Author

Listed:
  • Denis A. Coelho

    (Human Technology Group, Department of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technology, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Tiago E. P. Carrola

    (Human Technology Group, Department of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technology, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Ana F. Couvinhas

    (Directors & CE Consulting Group, 6200 Covilhã, Portugal)

Abstract

This research was aimed at improving the overall efficiency of the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) Serra da Estrela cheese production process, a traditional food product with cultural significance. Mapping of the manufacturing and distribution processes was developed from systemic analysis using ethnographic techniques. Critical points were identified, leading to design work. Ergonomic risks in cheese making were detected during the process of chips cutting, fostering the emergence of musculoskeletal disorders of the wrist. A tool that better fitted the job was developed. The systemic analysis provided a relational link across the boundaries of distinct domains approached through the research, including microorganism contamination, ergonomics, energy efficiency, legislation and regulation policies, transportation challenges and economic viability. Based on an analysis that connected various disciplines, maintaining a holistic perspective, a development plan to tackle critical points identified in the system was created. The results ripple across the triple bottom line of sustainability, demonstrating how systemic analysis and design are at the service of improving sustainability. By unveiling and acting on critical points that pushed the system away from zero waste, the environment is conserved; the preservation of cultural heritage has social significance; and the efficiency gains obtained in production attend financial goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis A. Coelho & Tiago E. P. Carrola & Ana F. Couvinhas, 2017. "Improvement of Certified Artisan Cheese Production through Systemic Analysis— Serra da Estrela PDO," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:468-:d:93615
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/3/468/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/3/468/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen H. Levine & Thomas P. Gloria & Eliahu Romanoff, 2007. "A Dynamic Model for Determining the Temporal Distribution of Environmental Burden," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(4), pages 39-49, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jelena Filipović, 2019. "Market-Oriented Sustainability of Sjenica Sheep Cheese," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Fátima Lanhoso & Denis Alves Coelho, 2021. "Emergence fostered by systemic analysis—Seeding innovation for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 768-779, July.
    3. Fátima L. Vieira & Paulo A. Vieira & Denis A. Coelho, 2019. "A Data-Driven Approach to Development of a Taxonomy Framework for Triple Bottom Line Metrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Issaka Dialga, 2016. "Méthodes d'évaluation économique des biens et services environnementaux et impacts cumulatifs," Working Papers hal-01308755, HAL.
    2. Athena Belegri-Roboli & Aggeliki Demertzi & Maria Markaki & Panayotis Michaelides, 2011. "An Input-Output Analysis of Environmental Effects of Infrastructure Investments in the Greek Economy: The Case of - Attiki Odos - motorway (refereed paper)," ERSA conference papers ersa10p481, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Belegri-Roboli, Athena & Markaki, Maria & Michaelides, Panayotis G., 2010. "The macroeconomic impacts of the Attiki Odos motorway in the Greek Economy: An Input–Output Analysis," MPRA Paper 74429, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. He, Kehan & Mi, Zhifu & Coffman, D'Maris & Guan, Dabo, 2022. "Using a linear regression approach to sequential interindustry model for time-lagged economic impact analysis," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 399-406.
    5. Issaka Dialga, 2017. "A Sustainability Index of Mining Countries," Working Papers halshs-01500643, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:468-:d:93615. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.