2009-10-01 - The Green Suppliers Network is a collaborative venture among industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP).
At ABB Pinetops, we are always looking for ways to improve our business and better serve our customers. We are also looking to balance our economic success with environmental stewardship. This is why we decided to become a partner in the Green Suppliers Network.
The Green Suppliers Network is a collaborative venture among industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP). The Green Suppliers Network works with manufacturers to employ Lean and Clean methodologies to increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve performance.
Lean and Clean means going beyond traditional Lean Manufacturing efforts. Eliminating non-value-added waste is a cornerstone of Lean Manufacturing. Lean manufacturing identifies and removes this waste from all aspects of an organization's operations.
Environmental waste, however, often goes un-addressed by traditional Lean Manufacturing initiatives. Environmental wastes can create significant costs for businesses. Raw material loss, disposal costs, compliance costs, and efficiency losses can really add up. Considering the environmental waste should be an important element to any business improvement effort.
That is why we are excited to partner with the Green Suppliers Network as we continue to improve the business in Pinetops.