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Program Elements
What Green Suppliers Network Does
The Green Suppliers Network empowers companies to increase productivity, reduce waste and boost profitability. By combining Lean and Clean manufacturing methods, our technical reviews optimize resources, such as labor and materials, identify opportunities to maximize return on investment, and eliminate waste. Green Suppliers Network Technical Review provides business-focused solutions to address suppliers manufacturing challenges.
NIST MEP centers perform an industry-specific, one-on-one technical review at each manufacturing facility. NIST MEP centers are responsible for providing business-focused solutions to industry processes as well as addressing environmental concerns. State environmental technical assistance programs provide additional support. EPA is not involved in any on-site technical assistance.
With a Green Suppliers Network Review suppliers get:
Lean and Clean. Using Lean and Clean manufacturing practices, the Green Suppliers Network review team will focus on incorporating process, energy, and material efficiencies into the supply chain, which can lead to substantial environmental benefits and reductions in labor and capital costs. The Green Suppliers Network review will produce process and value stream maps of a selected process in each facility.
Improved Bottom Line. Green Suppliers Network reviewers work with suppliers to identify significant cost savings and environmental opportunities in their facilities. In fact, investing in a Green Suppliers Network review often results in a minimum 3:1 return on that investment. Suppliers retain all cost savings from implementing Green Suppliers Network review recommendations and are able to pass along savings to customers, thereby remaining competitive.
Supply Chain Relationships. Through Green Suppliers, companies and their suppliers are able to work together to tackle common problems while building healthy collaborative relationships. Green Suppliers also provides a forum for all members of the supply chain to work together to identify opportunities for change.
Metrics. NIST MEP centers will aggregate and quantify economic and environmental benefits identified during Green Suppliers Network (GSN) reviews. Information from the reviews can be used by Green Suppliers Network members to create benchmarks, develop recommendations, and improve implementation through shared learning experiences. The Green Suppliers Network has confidentiality agreements with suppliers to protect all facility-level data.
Continuous improvement. The Green Suppliers Network establishes a delivery mechanism to engage manufacturers and their suppliers in continuous environmental/economic improvement. In particular, NIST MEP centers and state environmental technical assistance providers can assist each facility in implementing Best Management Practices.
Partnerships. The Green Suppliers Network partners with state, local and other federal agencies to bring the best technical, financial and research assistance to participating companies. Successfully piloted in the automotive* industry, this program is available to any manufacturing sector. Your company can be next!
* The automotive sector has chosen to organize its Green Suppliers Network activities through a trade association called the Suppliers' Partnership for the Environment.
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