Green Manufacturing: What Is It?

Manufacturing, along with other industrial processes, is one of the primary industry sectors being targeted for green technology use. Traditional manufacturing methods are transforming into lean, green conserving machines that benefit the planet and the bottom line.

Why go green? It's simply the right thing to do!

Embracing sustainable and green principles is not just a trend. Cultivating sustainable and green practices helps companies become more efficient, competitive and profitable. It’s more than simply a good thing to do. 

The term “green” manufacturing can be looked at in two ways: the manufacturing of “green” products, particularly those used in renewable energy systems and clean technology equipment (like that of our earth-friendly organic minimum quantity lubrication) and the “greening” of manufacturing - reducing pollution and waste by minimizing natural resource use, recycling and reusing what was considered waste, and reducing emissions.

In the manufacturing world, it is advantageous to focus on both green and sustainability. While targeted improvements can be beneficial to your company, looking at the bigger picture maximizes the perks of an environmental focus. 

Growing numbers of businesses are finding that reducing resource use, waste, and pollution, along with recycling and reusing what was formerly looked at as waste, yields benefits not only in terms of an improved bottom line, but in terms of employee motivation, morale, and public relations.

The Earth always benefits from any effort to reduce stress on her ecosystems - and when the Earth benefits, we all benefit as well.

Increase Productivity on the Manufacturing Floor

A wise man once said excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. In other words - great results can come from mastering a simple technique and applying it consistently. This principle is the cornerstone for a successful manufacturing facility and its productivity. 

As an employer, your job is to find the right leaders who can train, guide and motivate employees in order to get the job done. Meeting goals and demands is challenging. In nearly all manufacturing industries, the ultimate goal is to find ways to improve productivity on the floor. 

Here are a few ideas you can begin to implement immediately for boosting productivity and output on the factory floor: 

Reward trainers - First, model the behavior you want. Then, train your floor managers to implement best practices quickly. But also don't stop there. Implement a series of small rewards for achieving milestones and be creative and personal in how you offer those rewards. 

Reward efficiency - Don't obsess over output at the expense of everything else. Structure rewards that allow employees to save and use time saved via productivity enhancements such as vacation or sick time, lunch perks, or late start/early leave “bank” time.

Reward small failures - Productivity is a process, so treat it like one. Allow staff to team up and try small experiments for boosting output, setting aside rewards for both victories and failures. Whether their objective is to find the best high-quality aluminum lubricant system, or to cut down on waste/cleanup time per day, know that anything that moves the floor closer to achieving permanent gains is a win. 

Reward outcomes - Finally, remember the endgame. Identify tangible, measurable goals before embarking on any productivity-boosting campaign. Assign leaders to implement the plan and reward achievements. In the process, workers will come to see that performance isn't just a corporate mandate but a shared goal that comes with shared rewards.

Where are your hang-ups? If you don’t know the answer to this (and every business has them) then you may be positioning your business to be limited in productivity.