Lean manufacturing edge available for printers
Printers encouraged to learn the benefits of lean manufacturing.
“There is not a company in the industry that can’t benefit from reducing costs, increasing profits, improving customer service, enhancing quality and demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen.
“We now have the structure and support tried, tested and running to make this happen for members right across Australia who share these goals.
“LEAN & Green is a new initiative combining the traditional definition of competitive manufacturing (LEAN) with the Sustainable Green Print (SGP) components of environmental waste such as eliminating energy waste and toxic emissions.”
Andersen said LEAN & Green provided a flexible, print industry specific implementation plan that could be tailored to meet individual business conditions.
“LEAN manufacturing involves the systematic elimination of waste from all aspects of an organisation’s operation. Waste is defined as any use or loss of resources that does not lead directly to creating a product or service,” he said.
“Through its systematic focus on the elimination of non-value-added activity, our LEAN & Green program significantly improves the sustainability of organisations and can yield substantial production as well as environmental benefits and improved profitability.
“It can be taken as a package combining SGP training to Level 2 certification or if an environmental certification has been achieved, as a standalone competitive manufacturing program. Either way companies may be eligible for significant government funding incentives.”
Already, Sydney-based members Lindsay Yates Group at Artarmon and the TMA Group of Companies at Granville had completed LEAN training with a total 115 employees achieving nationally accredited Competitive Manufacturing qualification at either a Certificate Three or Four.
“Several other companies from the print, packaging and label sectors are currently receiving training via our partnership with SkilledForce and ATS including Planet Press Pty Ltd, Rawson Graphics Pty Ltd, Globus Group Pty Ltd, Labelcraft Pty Ltd, QDI Direct Press (Western Australia) and Look Print.
“We believe that this is one of the most important initiatives available to our industry and we will be making more announcements in relation to this shortly,” he said.
A website www.leanandgreen.com.au had been set up to provide initial information for interested businesses. Companies can also contact Printing Industries National Manager, Learning and Development, Ian Walz on (02) 8789 7362 e-mail: ian@printnet.com.au for a discussion.