Achieving Environmental Performance Goals - Evaluation of Impact Factors Using a Knowledge Discovery in Databases Approach

In recent past stakeholders have increasingly turned their attention to the environmental performance of companies. This is due to the impact manufacturing has on the environment e.g. climate change or the contamination of soil, air and water. Therefore many companies aim to act responsible and set themselves targets for environmental improvements. Thus they have to measure the performance in terms of energy and fresh water savings or the reduction of waste, volatile organic compounds released and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper aims to support decision makers and corporate management to analyze impact factors influencing a company's environmental performance and therefore to evaluate the possible risks for not achieving the targets set. A knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) approach is applied for an analysis within the automotive industry to determine these influences.