Wisconsin manufacturers get sustainability help

Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Published : 20 Jan 2010 17:08

The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) and BT Squared, Inc. announced a partnership today to support the growth and competitiveness of Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector by accelerating the adoption of profitable sustainability strategies.

Under the agreement, WMEP and BT Squared will work together to develop and deliver new services to improve energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption, emissions and non-recyclable waste.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to leverage our resources and expertise to help Wisconsin manufacturers cut costs and reduce their impact on the environment,” said John Tweddale, principal, BT Squared, a leading energy, environmental and civil engineering firm.

“Sustainability is a competitive advantage that will allow state manufacturers to build a strong foundation for future growth,” said Michael Klonsinski, executive director for WMEP, a nonprofit consulting firm committed to the growth and success of state manufacturers. “Sustainability is no longer an option, it’s a business imperative in today’s global marketplace.”

The savings that can be achieved with sustainability initiatives are substantial. Milwaukee-based Reliable Plating Works, Inc. saved more than $1 million as a result of a “lean and green” project that reduced energy, emissions and raw material usage.

Communicating the message that “green is gold” to the state’s 10,000 small and midsize manufacturers is a goal of the partnership. Though many Wisconsin firms are deploying sustainability as a business strategy, a substantial number of state firms aren’t in the game. The results of the Wisconsin Next Generation Manufacturing Study revealed that more than half of 500 respondents were making little or no progress on sustainability. More than a third of those surveyed thought it was of little or no importance. Less than 1 percent said they were achieving an annual reduction in energy (per unit of product output) at a level considered world-class.

A 2009 study by global research firm IDC Manufacturing Insights reports that “going green” is a catalyst for cost savings and revenue growth. The study compared revenues, inventory levels and profit margins of companies appearing on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index with those of manufacturing companies generally.

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