TITLE:
KIC4: A Four-Dimensional Model for Industrial Symbiosis: Validation with Key Stakeholders
AUTHORS:
Christopher Oughton, Martin Anda, Biji Kurup, Mostafa Hamadi, Goen Ho
KEYWORDS:
Industrial Symbiosis, Kwinana Industrial Area, Kalundborg Industrial Area, KIC4, Four-Dimensional Model, Circular Economy
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Industrial and Business Management,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: The traditional definitions of Industrial Symbiosis
broadly describe it as a symbiotic relationship between enterprises usually
operating in close geographic proximity
within an industrial precinct where the reduction of waste and by-products
through re-use of these materials is the goal, and is more recently described
within the broader construct of Circular Economy. But there is more to a
successful industrial precinct than simply the business-to-business
relationships associated with these by-product material exchanges. The
literature is slowly beginning to explore the presence of various forces that
also have a role to play. The novelty of this research is that these forces
have been explicitly identified as being a mix of four relationship-based
synergies. These were identified and crystallized through a series of four
sequential papers, and provisionally grouped under four headings, or
dimensions; Materials Exchange, Skilled Workforce, Support Industry, and
Governance. The purpose of the research
was to develop a model which could be used to create a dimensional profile for
any given industrial precinct. For each of these dimensions, a set of five
influencing factors were identified, and collectively they were used to build a
profile for a given industrial precinct. Analysis of the dimensional
influencing factors was expected to deliver insights into the extent to which
they may or may not be impacting the performance of the enterprise actors
located within it. Respondents from four
distinct groups associated with the precincts (policy makers, precinct
managers, enterprise managers and representative groups) were selected for the
research and were asked to characterise their precincts by rating each set of
dimensional influencing factors. The major finding of the research was that the
reason for the relative strength or weakness of an industrial precinct can be
described under this four-dimensional framework which has been called the KIC4
Model of Industrial Symbiosis. The evidence after testing these influencing
factors in various state, national and international greenfield and brownfield
precincts confirmed that the data obtained showed the interrelationships and
can be used to enhance the design or re-design of complex industrial precincts
to equip the existing enterprises and those considering locating within them,
to achieve higher levels of circularity and production efficiency.