Satisfying　the　requirements　associated　with　environmental　concerns　and　resource　efficiency　in　the　man-ufacturing　process　has　become　necessary　to　realize　effective　production　management.　Specifically,　man-ufacturers　must　identify　novel　working　procedures　or　methodologies　to　enhance　the　resource　efficiency　and　environmental　friendliness　of　production　processes.　Green-lean　production　and　a　circular　economy　are　promising　schemes　to　achieve　this　goal.　However,　compared　to　green-lean　management,　the　imple-mentation　of　a　circular　economy　in　production　operations　remains　relatively　unclear.　Several　scholars　have　recommended　the　combination　of　the　circular　economy　and　green-lean　concepts　to　bridge　this　gap,　however,　systematic　methods　remain　to　be　developed.　Considering　this　aspect,　this　study　proposes　a　method　that　integrates　green-lean　solutions　with　the　circular　economy　concept.　The　proposed　method　is　applied　in　production　operations　through　the　principle　of　continuous　improvement　to　enhance　the　environmental　and　resource　performance　aspects.　The　method　includes　three　successive　phases,　which　can　not　only　help　managers　fully　identify　the　opportunities　for　improvement　but　also　provide　managers　with　directions　for　improvement　by　introducing　four　strategy　quadrants.　The　effectiveness　and　practica-bility　of　the　proposed　method　are　proven　considering　an　industrial　case　of　the　assembly　workshop　of　an　automobile　company.　The　proposed　study　can　support　enhance　theoretical　knowledge　regarding　the　green-lean　and　circular　economy　concepts　and　demonstrates　the　implementation　of　a　circular　economy　in　the　process　of　optimizing　the　production　operation　of　manufacturing　enterprises.(c)　2021　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.