April 17, 2009

Purdue helps Indiana companies get green, clean and lean

The Green Enterprise Development Program, developed by Purdue's Technical Assistance Program, provides an entire work force with hands-on activities, simulations and case studies to teach environmental sustainability. Through the training certificate component of the program, employees earn a Green Specialist Certificate with accreditation through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Melissa Fey, sustainability facilitator at Smith Brothers Furniture in Berne, Ind., said the program can help companies reduce costs while becoming more environmentally conscious.

"Sustainable practices are as much about improving business performance as they are about being environmentally responsible," Fey said. "The two go clearly hand in hand."

The Green Workforce Training Certificate Program has three levels:

* Level 1: Green Generalists Training (Green 101.) Participants learn the key environmental issues facing manufacturers and ways to redesign their business practices using environmentally friendly techniques.

* Level 2: Green Specialist Certificate Series. Participants learn ways to measure environmental progress and improve the company's bottom line. Areas of focus include putting sustainability into practice, waste reduction, energy management, green chemistry, pollution solutions and water conservation.

* Level 3: Green Champion Certificate. A Purdue Green Champion demonstrates a full understanding of sustainability by passing the Green Certificate exam with accreditation through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and implementing a Green Champion project to reduce or eliminate waste. The economic impact of the project on the company also is measured.

Dave Snow, Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership director, said investing in the Green Enterprise Development Program yields long-term rewards.

"Recent studies indicate that nearly half the manufacturers in the United States have put green initiatives into place," Snow said. "We can help Indiana companies assess and expand their current practices or build an environmentally sustainable workplace from start to finish. This program also benefits workers by giving them a set of skills that has real value and transferability in today’s economy."

The National Institute for Standards and Technology, which provides federal funding for the MEP partnership, encourages companies to participate in the program.

“Being green is not only good for the Earth, but also good for business," said Alex Folk, NIST MEP center operations manager. "Companies that respond to consumer demand for environmentally friendly products and services are able to access new markets and create a more profitable enterprise by lowering their operating costs through waste reduction and process improvement.”

A Waste Stream Mapping workshop, through which companies can learn to identify waste streams and develop plans to minimize them, also is available.

Companies can register for the courses by phone at (800) 877-5182, ext. 620, or e-mail at MEPworkshops@purdue.edu. The Green Enterprise Development Program will be introduced April 21 at the 2009 MEP National Conference in Orlando.

Writer: Marydell Forbes, 765-496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Sources: Melissa Fey, 260-589-2131, mfey@smithbrosfurn.com

Dave Snow, 317-275-6811, davesnow@purdue.edu

Alex Folk, 301-975-8089, alex.folk@nist.gov

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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