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Manufacturing Is a Dirty Business: Can We Clean it Up?

Red World Change Keyboard ButtonBy Regina Mitchell
Student, Environmental Science at American Military University

I have worked in the steel manufacturing industry for nearly 25 years, most of them for a large fabricating and machining company that produces equipment for the mining, steel mill, and power generation industries. It is a dirty business, and I felt it was time to clean up our acts.

I come from a generation that has more education, access to the world and insight into how our actions affect our global community. As an employee of a company who builds equipment that contributes to the depletion of the earth’s natural resources, I felt a noticeable lack of environmental stewardship in our corporate culture. Rightfully so, our employees have built long-lasting, fruitful careers in our field and change is sometimes scary.

Processes must continually be improved to increase profit. Improving processes that contribute to the health of the environment and reduce costs became my goal. A change in our corporate culture empowered by common sense and education on sustainable practices was necessary to encourage the cooperation of management and our employees, a change that had to start at the top.

Currently I am serving as president of the nearly 50-year-old company, and am charged with leading the company into new and uncharted territory: sustainability. Given my firm foundation in the energy industry, my mission is two-fold:

  • Sustain the company’s success in the ever-changing landscape of the energy sector
  • Adapt our manufacturing processes to sustain a better world

This mission brought me to American Military University as a continuing education student seeking an undergraduate certificate in sustainability. As my final week of classes commence in completing my certificate, implementation of smart, simple, sustainable practices along with a few more extensive infrastructure investments have already made a significant impact toward accomplishing our mission.

Smart & Simple Solutions
My education at AMU has had a significant impact on my ability to see our workplace differently and notice simple processes that can make a difference through concepts taught in the courses. AMU’s Green Infrastructure and Renewable Technologies class highlighted lessons including Emerging Sustainable Technologies and Green Business and Industry that brought these issues to my attention.

For example, we recently replaced our disposable shop rags with waste-free, absorbent floor mats, spill socks, and industrial towels that are reusable, launderable, and delivered for reuse in our machining facilities by an ISO 14001 registered company. We reduce our trash costs, provide a safer work environment for our employees, and minimize our landfill footprint. The environmental consequences are significant because the recovered oils and solvents are recycled and reused in other applications – not landfilled.

I have walked past these machines and shop rags for nearly 20 years without a second thought about the environmental effects our use of disposable shop rags was having on our environment until my educational experience at AMU. The course work in my program highlighted the costs and benefits of green technologies for corporate development and brought terms like eco-effectiveness, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility into plausible goals for our company.

Extensive Infrastructure Investments
Cost has always been a factor in every corporate infrastructure investment. My exposure to the many viewpoints of my professors and fellow students has prepared me to argue the cost/benefits analysis to push a few extensive projects through our budget. Last fall we began updating our facility by replacing the antiquated lighting system with energy- efficient commercial lighting for over 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

We have also secured a grant from the State of Ohio to offset the cost of a $1.1 million diesel/electric locomotive to haul our massive manufactured products. The locomotive has a 12- cylinder primary diesel engine that powers four DC (direct current) traction motors that turn the wheels. It also has a four-cylinder auxiliary diesel providing ancillary electrical power, providing a 95% reduction in emissions, and reducing fuel consumption by 75% and particulate matter by 1.53 kilograms/day. Our cost for this investment is offset by $684,000 from the Ohio EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Grant Program.

Changing Times Requires Changing Directions
My latest project is our current search for a national sales executive to identify and develop new business partnerships and introduce our manufacturing company to the renewable energy market. The future of energy is changing. To remain relevant — but, more importantly, successful — in the future, we must change not only our old business model but also our approach to the world itself and our contribution to it. Changing our corporate culture has been the most challenging aspect of the implementation of sustainable policies and practices but I believe it is the most important change we can make.

Change is the only constant. Your ability to change will afford you relevance. Your willingness to change will ensure your success.

About the Author

Regina Mitchell is the Owner and President of Warren Fabricating and Machining Corporation and Owner and Managing Partner of Ohio Steel Sheet and Plate located in Hubbard, Ohio. Before serving as President, Regina has worked in various departments in the organization including quality control and strategic planning. She is a Continuing and Professional Studies Student at Loyola University Chicago and has recently earned an Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability from American Military University.

 

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