1. Driving Down Waste.
- Author
-
Bellas, Amy L. and Angel, Wendy
- Subjects
WASTE management ,INDUSTRIAL wastes ,AUTOMOBILE industry ,AWARDS ,COST effectiveness - Abstract
The article examines how the waste industry is helping to minimize auto industry waste. Waste companies do not necessarily fuel automobile industry of the U.S., but by becoming specialists to automotive companies, they have been reaping rewards while helping the auto makers to refocus attention on vehicle production -- not waste. To more effectively manage these materials, the automotive industry has turned to total waste management (TWM), which is outsourcing waste management. TWM was implemented around the mid-1990s and has since become a standard in most GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler manufacturing and other facilities. Prior to TWM, auto makers typically had little time to focus on waste management. Meanwhile, waste companies did not have an incentive to reduce waste or meet manufacturer waste goals. TWM works by centralizing all waste management with one supplier. By sharing management resources, even small facilities benefit from TWM programs through the implementation of common practices and efficiencies. While TWM is effective, remaining competitive and continually offering cost savings to customers can be challenging. The partnerships between the U.S. auto makers and their TWM suppliers have been successful not only in cost savings but also in earning the companies governmental and environmental awards.
- Published
- 2005