Sustainability Magazine
Volume 10, No. 6
June 2009
Manufacturers Going Green
By Leo Durham
An increasing number of manufacturing companies around the country are going green, which they hope will put more green into their cash registers.
The Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP) works with a variety of state and regional industry associations and economic development groups to teach companies "lean" manufacturing techniques.
This not-for-profit organization, administered by the Department of Commerce, demonstrates how to reduce waste, or "fat," in the manufacturing process. This includes things such as cutting energy use, incorporating more efficient production techniques, and finding cheaper methods of packaging and shipping goods.
The result is better not only for the environment, but also for company profits. Last year, MEP helped more than 1,000 firms save about $1.4 billion and increase their sales by $10.5 billion. These actions led to the creation of nearly 57,000 new jobs.
"It was tremendous for us," said Mark McCartney, general manager of the Clear Water bottled water company. "MEP showed us how to cut our energy production in half, which led to a 3-percent increase in sales, and a 100-percent increase in production capacity."
McCartney has been quick to spread the wealth. Last year, a bottle of Clear Water retailed for $1.50. Now, MEP training has enabled the company to slash the price to $1.20.
Your turn
Dear editor:
I enjoyed the article on MEP in the June issue of Sustainability Magazine. When manufacturers pass savings onto customers, everybody wins.
Overall, the writer did a fine job. However, there is one mistake in the article I would like to point out. After our company finished training with MEP, sales jumped 30 percent, and our production capacity increased by 10 percent.
I would encourage every manufacturer to consider partnering with MEP. There's always some fat that can be trimmed from the production process.
William Lyons
CEO, Clear Water Bottling
