Waste Not, Want Not: Achieving Environmental Savings through Lean Implementation

This FREE webinar was recorded on: Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT Learn how to sponsor a webinar with us?

Environmental wastes can cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Recent instability in the Middle East and record fuel prices, along with continued pressures on global supplies of natural resources, has made the business case stronger for reducing waste of natural resources and energy.

Indeed, according to a recent McKinsey Global Survey of Corporate Executives, 34% of CEOs believe that resource constraints will affect profits in the next five years. This coupled with increasing consumer awareness about the environment and stricter government pollution control regulations make it more important than ever for companies to make efficient use of natural resources and energy.

Sustainability measures needn't cost the earth. When companies use Lean to address environmental concerns such carbon emissions, energy use, or process waste - they can achieve huge environmental and cost savings.

In this Webinar you will :

• Hear practical case studies on companies that have taken the plunge to utilize Lean methodologies to reduce environmental waste and achieve bottom line savings at the same time
• Understand the business case for sustainability measures
• Learn to identify and eliminate environmental waste and make environmental Lean thinking part of the journey - not a side trip
• Explore the use of Lean techniques including Value Stream Mapping for Natural Resource Flows, Kaizen events, and the Sixth 'S' in the 5-S's
• Define the types of environmental metrics that can be used to measure the success of a Lean Green project

Panelist:

Chris Reed Director, EPA Lean and Environment Initiative Environmental Protection Specialist

Christopher Reed is a member of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Lean & Environment Initiative. The goal of the Initiative is to bring environmental factors to the forefront when planning lean activities and view environmental wastes the same as the traditional lean “deadly wastes.” Recent publications from the group include "The Lean & Environment Toolkit" and "The Lean & Energy Toolkit." There are also a multitude of case studies that can be found on the group’s Web site. For more information on the Initiative and to download free copies of the toolkits, please visit http://www.epa.gov/lean/pubs.htm.