Workshop teaches manufacturing businesses to go lean and green

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - March 13, 2008

08-064

Workshop teaches manufacturing businesses to go lean and green

OLYMPIA – Manufacturing businesses in Washington state can learn to increase productivity while reducing waste and their use of energy, water and raw materials by participating in a workshop presented by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Washington Manufacturing Services.

Lean and Green: A Forum for Washington Businesses will present new approaches on Tues., March 25, 2008, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. This half-day videoconference will be presented at four sites in the state: Everett, Spokane, Renton and Vancouver.

Washington Manufacturing Services (WMS) and Ecology have already teamed up on three “lean and green” projects that helped three Washington manufacturers collectively save more than $1.3 million annually in productivity and environmental improvements. The projects also earned a national pollution prevention award for eliminating the use of over 19 million cubic feet of natural gas and tens of thousands of pounds of hazardous substances and wastes.

Said John Vicklund, WMS president, “In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to employ continuous improvement in both productivity and environmental performance.”

Said Jay Manning, Ecology director, “This workshop will give businesses real examples of how lean and pollution prevention strategies can help save money, avoid costly permitting processes, and systematically eliminate all forms of waste.”

The forum will be presented at these locations:

WSU Spokane
Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI)
665 N. Riverpoint Blvd.

WSU Vancouver
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue

Renton
200 Mill Ave. South, Suite 100

University Centers of North Puget Sound
Everett Station
3201 Smith Ave, Everett

For more information about the Lean and Green forum or to register, contact Michelle Gaither at the Pollution Prevention Resource Center, 206-352-2050, mgaither@pprc.org.

###

Media Contacts:

Kathy Davis, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6149
Hugh O’Neill, Ecology Hazardous Waste Program, 360-407-6354
Michelle Gaither, Pollution Prevention Resource Center, 206-352-2050
Robin Horrell, Washington Manufacturing Services, 425-438-1146, 105

For more information:

Ecology’s Lean and Environment Website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/lean/index.html
Washington Manufacturing Services Website: http://www.wamfg.org/