Integrating Energy Efficiency into Industrial Strategy – A Case Study from the European Aerospace Sector

The many examples of energy efficiency initiatives in the literature are limited to “what” not “how”. A gap exists on how organisations translate energy efficiency objectives into strategy. The available literature is either generic on strategy deployment or lacks empirical support. This research explores how a European aerospace manufacturer developed its strategy in order to meet its energy efficiency objectives. The research documents four years of observation covering: an energy efficiency initiative in one manufacturing plant; the launch of a central strategy across plants; inter-plant integration and coordination; completed improvement projects. A narrative of these activities is presented and critically reviewed against the literature and is validated using commentary from key actors within the organisation and document analysis. The paper provides practical insights for other manufacturers embarking on their journeys. The challenges encountered are documented and used to present issues for further research.