tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690452568569296395.post2565535219144028502..comments2023-10-26T04:31:15.293-07:00Comments on Green Manufacturing: Low Hanging FruitDavid Dornfeldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08146655060394406346noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690452568569296395.post-59755124683410430962010-01-12T13:18:05.948-08:002010-01-12T13:18:05.948-08:00I think it is great that you are delving into the ...I think it is great that you are delving into the question of how small business can get involved with sustainability taking into account the natural restrains that small businesses have. We have worked with several small companies (5-15 employees) to improve or implement environmental management systems and sometimes find that at this level, while the language may seem daunting for an enterprise of this size, the implementation is actually easier. Further I think it is important for small business to start thinking sustainably because today's small business will be tomorrow's big business and it is always easier to start with a sustainable mindset from the begining then adopt one at the end.Barret Hudsonhttp://www.improvemybusinesnow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690452568569296395.post-5001542561042774812010-01-12T10:28:37.428-08:002010-01-12T10:28:37.428-08:00Small and medium enterprises (SME) should not see ...Small and medium enterprises (SME) should not see the adoption of sustainability as an insurmountable hurdle. They do not need extra organizational resources, but a reallocation of existing human, physical (plant, equipment) and financial resources.<br /><br />A few ideas to consider in the easy, fast and cheap to implement:<br />1. Product design must be allowed and encouraged to focus on LCA and quality instead of relentless search of lowest cost components. While this might sound heresy to marketing, a "slow-to-market" strategy is necessary to release a sustainable product.<br />2. Both product and manufacturing process design should think about main inputs (energy, materials, water, critical environmental aspects defining sustainability) not in terms of internal costs to the business, but of overall costs to the environment and even as revenue sources.<br /> a. Energy - maximize useful energy (mechanical) and minimize, eliminate useless, residual energy (thermal) during manufacturing<br /> - utilize useless energy as input to another process (thermal to facility heating)<br /> - become your own power plant, bu using own facilities to generate clean, renewable energy (best cost avoidance strategy), sell the excess (almost pure profit)<br /> b. Materials - substitute scarce, toxic, expensive materials (metals with ceramics, steel with aluminum)<br /> - maximize the use of recyclable and recycled materials (could recycled glass or paper be used instead of cast iron?)<br /><br />SME's should view the business needs and challenges of sustainability as excellent opportunities for learning and innovation and as a guarantee of survival.<br /><br />Silvia Leahu-AluasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com