Motivation for Manufacturer's to Go Green

 Motivation for manufacturers to become more energy efficient took a huge step forward recently with announcements by major corporations like Wal-Mart and General Motors that they will require their suppliers to reduce their carbon footprints.

 According  to Jack Healy, director of operations at the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, the impact of these announcements, like Wal-Mart's February decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 20 million metric tons by 2015, is likely to be seismic in the manufacturing world.

For the first time, businesses are regulating the environment, he said, and their action is likely to have a much more game-changing impact than anything state or federal regulations have achieved, especially for smaller companies.

"Now you have large companies like Wal-Mart, IBM, GE and GM, they're all going back down through their supply chain and they're making demands on (companies) to change," said Healy. "I think you're going to see a very significant change. They are much more capable of affecting change than regulators."

While many large manufacturers have already begun exploring the benefits of increased energy efficiency, especially if they have consumer products that can be branded as sustainable, smaller companies don't always have the necessary time, available capital or similar financial incentives, to do the same.

Now pressure from major corporations means many must begin taking steps in order to keep their businesses alive.

"Smaller companies have always resisted all this stuff, but now if they want to remain in the supply chain, they're going to have to conform," said Healy.

According to Healy, a good number of Massachusetts companies have the potential to be affected with about 69 percent of the state's 7,000 manufacturers falling in the 20-or-fewer employee category.

Part of a national network, MassMEP works with manufacturers to create more efficient manufacturing processes. More recently, it has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to see how Lean manufacturing techniques can be applied to produce more sustainable manufacturing operations.

While these new pressures are getting close attention from manufacturers, Healy said, many are confused about where to place their efforts. In a May 27 blog post on the subject, Healy cited a recent Aberdeen Group survey which shows sustainability has become one of the top five market pressures facing today's manufacturing operations.

But, he noted, the survey suggests manufacturers are still struggling with just where sustainability efforts should be focused — on building facilities, products, manufacturing operations or all of the above.     Click here for full story






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Shanghai GM Aims to Reduce Fuel Consumption 15%

Shanghai GM has outlined the next phase of its “Drive to Green” product strategy—launched in 2008 (earlier post)—for 2011-2015. The joint venture between GM and SAIC intends to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 15% while improving performance 14% by 2015.
The Drive to Green strategy is based on improving and optimizing the performance of traditional internal combustion engines and transmissions; continuing the roll out of hybrids; promoting electric vehicles; and supporting the development of hydrogen and other zero-emission products. Several targets announced in 2008 have already been achieved.
Advanced Powertrains. Shanghai GM will introduce 12 new engines through 2015, including several with small displacements, such as a 1.5-liter VVT engine and 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. Vehicles with engines that have displacements of between 1.4 liters and 2.5 liters will account for 95% of Shanghai GM’s total sales in the future.
Engine technologies such as SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) and turbocharging, as well as new transmissions such as the S6, will be applied in Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet products offered by Shanghai GM. They will cover all market segments, from compact vehicles to luxury products. Shanghai GM’s current lineup of engines with medium displacements and turbocharging will also be upgraded.
In addition, Shanghai GM will intensify the application of energy-saving technologies in its new models. New products will feature a lower drag coefficient and more aerodynamic design, be lighter in weight, and incorporate automatic start-stop engine technology to further improve fuel efficiency. By 2012, all models sold in China will have the capability of being upgraded to comply with the Euro V (China Phase 5) emission standard.
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. Additional hybrids and vehicles powered by electricity will be rolled out by Shanghai GM over the next five years. The automaker will show a Chevrolet New Sail (earlier post) electric vehicle prototype this year.
[A hatchback version of the Chevrolet New Sail went on sale 1 June, with 1.2-liter SE and 1.2-liter SX versions currently available. The 1.4-liter EMT with an electronic manual transmission is expected to be available in three months. Since its launch earlier this year, the New Sail sedan has posted average monthly sales of about 7,500 units.]
In 2011, the new Buick LaCrosse Hybrid, which will have 20% better fuel economy than the standard model, and the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range capability will be introduced. The Volt will be able to run solely on electricity for up to 60 kilometers (37 miles). Its 1.4-liter on-board engine will give the Volt a maximum driving range of more than 480 kilometers (298 miles).
“Drive to Green”. Since the Drive to Green strategy was initiated, between 2008 and 2009, Shanghai GM invested almost US$1.1 billion in powertrain development, 
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