Going Green is Green ($)
Historically the measure of productive manufacturing has been categorized into the five M’s, man, machine, material, methods and measurements; made possible by the sixth M – money. Continuous improvement methods such as Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma have yielded significant gains in bottom line profits. So when a manufacturer asks me why they should go Green, I kindly reply by asking, “why not?”
The process of manufacturing utilizes social, environmental and economic resources. The best manufacturer considers the productivity of each raw material used. Sustainability or “Going Green” has become more than the “topic du jour” as our economy and environment shrinks and changes. The next level of manufacturing excellence considers its impact from a perspective of sustainability. A former CEO of mine once said, “Green is Green ($)”.
The formal definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” If your business is going to exist tomorrow, you must consider your consumption of needs today. How much material or how many resources does it really take to produce 1 unit of good product?
So why won’t a business Go Green or implement Sustainability?
Lack of right information about the benefits
Struggle to define business case relative to their industry
Action is taken…but execution is flawed
What is the Business Case?
Growth
Preferred position, enhanced market entry
Sustainable suppliers add continuous value
Improved customer loyalty; less churn
Cost
Reduce, reuse and recycle, maximizes 5M productivity
Resource efficiency – (i.e., material, water, energy & man)
Greater operational efficiencies
Profits
Customers pay a premium
Cash and non-cash (Sustainable ROI)
Lower costs and taxes
What can you do now?
Assess where you are today
Clarifies your business case
Establishes a knowledge baseline
Initiates competitive advantage
Create a sustainability plan
Identifies critical areas
Aligns operations with sustainable goals
Communicates commitment
Create Sustainable ROI measures
Economics: Sustainable ROI
Social: Improved reliability
Environmental: Waste avoided
As an organization considers the transition to sustainability, knowledge, skills and ability are essential for proper project selection, measures and flawless execution. Successful sustainability implementation is top-down driven with significant recognition to stakeholders, consumers and regulatory agencies driving the evolution. For a more in depth discussion or questions contact The InnoTrans Group at
info@parkerenterprisesllc.com.
The InnoTrans Group, a division of Parker Enterprises LLC, is an innovative
business improvement firm that institutes change and delivers real business results. Proven leadership, measurable results, innovative solutions, and wealth of experience have assisted clients across a diversity of industries. We focus on developing resources and strategy and improving processes by putting proven functional tools to work. We work hand and hand to remove barriers to success, while creating an environment of right to left thinking, continuous improvement and sustainability.
www.parkerenterprisesllc.com
