The core of Lean Manufacturing and Lean Enterprise is a constant vigilance for opportunities to reduce waste. Although most of us focus on value stream mapping and kaizen activities to improve wasteful processes and methods, we need to also keep an eye on our facility costs.
The National Association of Manufacturers has published a free, downloadable 38-page book entitled Energy Efficiency, Water and Waste Reduction Guidebook for Manufacturers. In addition to a large number of tips and strategies, the book has several real-world case studies that should get you thinking. Download a copy today!
As NAM is rightly fond of pointing out, U.S. manufacturers incur a 22% cost disadvantage vs. our trading partners in areas such as energy costs, regulations, taxes, and especially legal costs. Perhaps this guidebook will let us chip away at that a bit.