Eliminating the seven wastes can help a company go green

In the business world, Lean manufacturing is widely known as one of the leading strategies for reducing waste, improving the culture of the workplace and generally bolstering efficiency. But now, many companies are discovering alternative effects as well – notably, that Lean operations also help them improve their environmental performance.

“Many organizations have found that following these seven lean principles results in waste reduction,” notes a research paper produced by Oakland University's School of Business Administration. “Many organizations have also found that a by-product of these seven Lean principles is enhanced 'green' or environmental performance, even when lean activities were not initiated for environmental reasons.”

The seven Lean wastes or principles include the elimination of needless overproduction, time on hand, transportation, processing, stock on hand, movement and creation of defective products. By targeting these wastes, companies have been able to simultaneously reduce their impact on the environment.

“For example, if a work environment is kept clean using the 5S concepts (sift, sort, sweep, sanitize and sustain), hazardous spills and leaks may be noticed more quickly and can subsequently be addressed more rapidly,” the white paper adds. “Leaner operations typically require less floor space for operations and storage, which can translate into decreased energy needs. The production of fewer defects reduces energy and resource needs.”

Going green as a byproduct of Lean

One of the biggest difficulties when trying to enact any significant changes within a company boils down to financials. If business leaders approach financial officers and tell them they want to create a greener company, the first issue that will pop up is the matter of money and how much the transition will take out of the budget.

This is precisely why Lean implementation is so important. Businesses don't have to spend more money to go green, despite commonly held misconceptions. With Lean, companies are enacting changes that will actually help them raise productivity, improve efficiency and reduce wasteful processes. If money is an issue, Lean can be a means of achieving green that satisfies the needs of all relevant parties, from financial officers to reputation managers.