Lean and Environment
National Links
Resources
Lean and Sustainable Offices Whitepaper
Background
Originally developed in the manufacturing sector, Lean is a methodology that strives to eliminate non-value added activity or “waste” from processes. Lean is often associated with the Japanese term, “Kaizen,” which means “ change for the better.” Lean principles and philosophy are still being used in manufacturing, but also in business and office processes in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Lean is not just about efficiency but about respecting the people and their institutional knowledge of the process before improvements can be identified.
EPA is working with Lean practitioners to maximize the environmental benefits of Lean so that environmental and natural resources wastes are considered as part of non-value added activities in any process. These natural resources wastes should be accounted for and minimized. EPA’s interest in Lean methods and tools (e.g., Six Sigma, 5s / 6s, Value Stream Mapping) is in identifying the environmental wastes associated with public and private processes.
Region 4 started a Regional Lean Initiative to identify processes that could benefit from the application of Lean methods and the identification of environmental wastes. Through this initiative, Region 4 and its States identified five processes for Lean events – two State government processes, one small business process, and one local government process. The goals of these events were to:
- train process teams on the fundamentals of Lean thinking and Lean methods,
- identify areas of potential improvement for the teams,
- identify wastes, and
- work with the teams to develop solutions.
Many institutions in the private sector as well as the public sector are interested in applying Lean concepts to processes, especially in times of reduced budgets and staff resources. Region 4 will continue to work states and local governments, manufacturers and other interested institutions to help increase the awareness of how Lean methodologies and tools can help reduce costs, reduce natural resources wastes, and improve worker productivity and competitiveness. |
Lean and Sustainable Offices Whitepaper |
This whitepaper defines Lean and explores the relationship between Lean and Environmental Management Systems (EMSs). |
Case Studies
Region 4 partnered with states, local government, and businesses to facilitate the following Lean events: |
Georgia |
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Florida |
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North Carolina |
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South Carolina |
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