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Partner Guide

Congratulations on becoming a member of the Green Suppliers Network!
The Partner Guide leads small or medium-sized manufacturers through the Green Suppliers Network review process. This guide prepares Partners for the review and offers strategies to implement the recommended lean and green strategies.

Step 1. Get Ready for the Review

  • Work with the local review team to prepare for your technical review. Participate in an introductory phone call to discuss what to expect during the review process.
  • The local review team will send you the contract to sign before your first meeting.
  • The local review team will meet you on site for a half-day facility walk-through to observe and gather data. You will identify an appropriate product/process line for value stream mapping (VSM)/process mapping.

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Step 2. Bring Local Experts to Your Shop Floor

  • On the first day, the review team begins the process with a brief introduction and overview of lean manufacturing and integration of green strategies. The review team provides in-depth training on VSM and process mapping techniques and leads collaborative effort to create a "current state" VSM or process map of the identified product/process line.
  • On the second and third days, the review team leads a collaborative effort to create a "future state" map of the identified product/ process line that includes lean and green improvement recommendations made by the group.
  • At the end of the onsite review, you prioritize the list of recommended improvement opportunities. You also identify additional product or process lines where you can apply the lean and green techniques that you just learned.
  • The final report provides a summary of review findings, presents current and future state process maps, identifies lean and green opportunities, calculates cost-savings potential, and recommends next steps for implementing lean and green improvements.

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Step 3. Start Saving with the Lean and Green Advantage

  • The review team will conduct a follow-up call to answer any questions you might have about the report and clarify findings and recommendations. The review team also will discuss any need you might have for additional technical assistance and implementation support.
  • You determine which recommendations to implement and when.
  • After completing the selected process improvements, use the Green Suppliers Network calculator to help you monitor the changes to your inputs and outputs and corresponding savings.
  • Within one year of completing your Green Suppliers Network technical review, NIST will contact you and ask you to complete a follow-up survey that measures progress you have made implementing recommended improvements. The survey also tracks cost savings, which are kept completely confidential, as well as reductions in your environmental footprint.

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