Helping to promote a lean environment

The furniture industry can reduce its impact on the environment through better waste management and use of materials, delegates at The Lean Environment event were told recently.
 
ukfirst jointly organised the event with MAS East (Manufacturing Advisory Service) at The Cambridge Technology Centre, Melbourn, Hertfordshire. 

John Baldwin, Programme Director, ukfirst kicked off the event with a brief introduction of the furniture industry forum, which aims to deliver sustainable improvements in profitability and performance throughout the industry. ukfirst works with companies to provide structured training and measurable improvements to promote continuous development. “By implementing lean manufacturing techniques, companies can expect to reduce and even eliminate waste across the entire supply chain,” he said.

Gareth Phillips, Managing Director of Futureglass, gave attendees an insight into the improvement projects led by ukfirst with a case study of his business. With continued support from both MAS East and ukfirst, the manufacturer of contemporary glass furniture has been able to tackle a series of changes in the market caused by imports. “As a result of lean improvements projects, we have been able to manufacture products specifically personalised to the client’s specification,” he said.

Robin Cheyne, MAS East Team Leader, explained that the company offers localised support to furniture manufacturers through its 10 regional centres across the UK. “The lean journey is for life and to achieve a self driven lean environment it is important to empower your own employees to drive improvement,” he said. 
  
Alun Watkins, FIRA Environmental Consultant, detailed the criteria furniture businesses need to address to gain membership of the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP). “By ensuring that your company operates in line with these environmental guidelines, you can hope to improve efficiency, reduce your costs and achieve a competitive advantage,” he said.

<< Back