Strategic approaches to the sustainability of leather manufacturimg in Bogota, Colombia

Abstract:

Although, in Colombia, many of the economic sectors are currently standardized, there are many small producers that are still on the sidelines, or have not considered it necessary to establish themselves as sustainable productive organizations, to promote in each economic sector, a set of strategies and actions aimed at improving productivity, reducing environmental impact, increasing profits and ensuring the well-being of workers and consumers. This research seeks to stimulate the leaders of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), to practice the production of origin and brand building, as a strategy of change management in the face of the new global patterns of demand (Hayes, 2018). This purpose will give the possibility of MSMEs to become formal and transparent organizations that promote the best productive practices in the leather, footwear and leather goods sector, as a tradition that builds historical value to the Restrepo neighborhood, in the city of Bogotá (Colombia), which can position this area, as an Industrial District (Acevedo and Muñoz, 2014). The contribution of this research, after diagnosing the reactive, proactive and value-seeking scope of 32 MSMEs, consists in devising an management model that allows companies in the leather, footwear and leather goods sector, to improve their productive model, with based on a strategic approach to sustainability, (Laura Macchion, 2018), which integrates management indicators, environmental and social, from the perspective of Lean Manufacturing (Ramachandrana & N. Alagumurthia 2013). In addition, the proposed production model will seek to prepare MSMEs to face phenomena such as Fast Fashion (Bruce & Daly 2011).