LEAN AND GREEN - THE MOVE TO ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS MANUFACTURING

This article presents the results of a national survey of environmenta l manufacturing practices. Efforts by firms to improve manufacturing p rocesses and increase productivity create substantial opportunities fo r environmental improvement, The adoption of advanced manufacturing pr ocess innovations provides incentives for the adoption of environmenta lly conscious manufacturing strategies, Close relationships across the production chain, between end-users and suppliers in particular, faci litate the adoption of this related bundle of environmental and indust rial innovations. Firms and plants that are R&D-intensive and manufact uring innovators possess the capacity to both improve productivity and reduce environmental costs and risks.