Waste Efficiency

Do You Make Waste Efficiency A Priority?

Why is it that we avoid the question when it comes to waste efficiency? It seems that we consider ourselves to be very good at avoiding waste whether individually or the corporate level, because we are "naturally efficient," in some way. The truth is that pretty much any activity involves waste, essentially when we use anything more than the absolute minimum of resources.

In a corporate environment, there are at least six distinct areas where we can identify that waste is an issue. One of the most glaring is in the overproduction of products, a serious waste efficiency issue. It seems that whenever a delay occurs in a process or, conversely, whenever an element of motion is involved, waste inefficiency is apparent. We see a byproduct of overproduction in excess inventory stock.

Why is it that we avoid the question when it comes to waste efficiency? It seems that we consider ourselves to be very good at avoiding waste whether individually or the corporate level, because we are "naturally efficient," in some way. The truth is that pretty much any activity involves waste, essentially when we use anything more than the absolute minimum of resources.

Products should be supplied to the customer on a "just-in-time" basis, as anything that is produced over and above this is a clear indication of waste efficiency problems. If a poor tracking system or archaic bureaucratic procedures are in place, the company will undoubtedly exacerbate its waste problems.

One of the first steps taken by a new waste efficiency committee is to investigate the root of the problem and to reveal how your current processes cannot handle the workload effectively. This is of course particularly troublesome if the goods being produced are perishable!

Supply Chain’s Waste Efficiency Will Help Achieve Sustainability

Right at the top of the tree, waste can be produced at the sales level as poor forecasting methods are used. When errors are included at the customer level they aggravate the situation throughout the product lifecycle. The waste efficiency committee has to interact with the sales team and investigate the generation of paperwork to start off with.

The supply chain is a clear focus for improved waste efficiency, especially as they will probably be providing you with your products complete with additional packaging materials, as an example. It will be up to you to incur disposal costs for these items and you should turn this around to your supplier to make sure that they become waste efficient as well.

Waste Efficiency Can Be Achieved Through Mitigation

During the production process, poor measurement activities will develop all kinds of clippings, cutoffs or other material that will find its way to the landfill. You should know that many organizations have made a pledge to cut out the use of landfills altogether in the relatively near future, subscribing to waste efficiency comprehensively.

Waste efficiency can be destroyed by a corporate culture and this needs to be changed in the boardroom. The company cannot achieve ultimate sustainability unless waste mitigation is fully engaged. Do not impose excessively on the resources and environment all around.

About Verisae

Verisae helps measure, manage and reduce equipment and energy costs including the related business and environmental impacts of carbon emissions. The Sustainability Resource Planning (“SRP”) software platform improves operational efficiency, protects brand integrity and helps ensure regulatory compliance for distributed enterprises across many industries. Verisae delivers a broad range of sustainability solutions to dozens of clients globally with thousands of daily users including an extended network of third-party suppliers. Verisae’s integrated sustainability platform actively tracks millions of assets across thousands of sites worldwide.

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