Technical Reviews

Small and medium-sized manufacturers can join the Green Suppliers Network as a Partner, or a larger manufacturer can join as a Corporate Champion and nominate suppliers to participate.

By joining, small to medium-sized companies commit to participating in an onsite lean and green technical review of a product or process line. Larger Corporate Champions commit to nominate companies from their supply chain that can benefit the greatest from participating in an onsite technical review.

Here's how the process works:

• The Green Suppliers Network review team conducts a technical review at the facility and trains staff on the Lean and Green Advantage. EPA is not involved in any onsite technical assistance.

• The team combines the expertise of the supplier's local Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center (a program within the Department of Commerce) with the expertise of the supplier's state environmental programs.

• Suppliers will receive a set of confidential recommendations that, when implemented, will result in production efficiencies, environmental improvements, and cost savings.

During the Green Suppliers Network review, suppliers use value stream mapping techniques to identify sources of non-value-added time or materials, identify opportunities to increase efficiency, and develop a plan for implementing improvements. Value stream mapping serves as a critical tool during the review process and can reveal substantial opportunities to reduce costs, enhance production flow, save time, reduce inventory, and improve environmental performance.

Are you unfamiliar with value stream mapping? If so, view these videos to learn about how it works...