![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
EPA Lean Activities
- Partnerships, Tool Development, and Outreach
- Lean & P2 Network
- U.S. EPA Wins International Prize in Lean Manufacturing
- Lean & EMS Integration in the Shipbuilding Sector
Partnerships, Tool Development, and Outreach
EPA seeks to work with lean experts, organizations implementing lean, state environmental agencies, and other partners to:
- Raise awareness about the relationship of lean production to environmental performance.
- Share "good practices" for improving the environmental benefits of lean initiatives.
- Develop and disseminate integrated lean and environment tools.
- Identify and address environmental regulatory "friction" associated with lean.
- Learn how lean techniques could be used to improve government agency processes.
EPA is working with partners in different industry sectors to document lean and environment success stories and to develop tools that organizations could use to maximize the environmental benefits of lean. In addition, EPA is exploring how flexible air permitting techniques could be adapted for the lean operating environment and conducting outreach about lean and the environment to lean practitioners and pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance providers.
EPA is very interested to learn more from organizations that have used lean methods to improve their environmental performance, or that have ideas for tools that could help to improve environmental gains associated with lean. Contact us for more information or to discuss partnership opportunities.
Lean & P2 Network
EPA hosts a quarterly conference call to help service providers and others interested in the topic to share ideas and network. Past topics of discussion include: Lean Manufacturing (Value Stream Maps, Kaizen Events, 3P, etc.); Integrated Lean and Environment/P2 Assistance; Lean Permitting; Lean and Environmental Design (of products and processes).
U.S. EPA Wins International Prize in Lean Manufacturing
On May 20, 2004, EPA received the prestigious 2004 Shingo Prize for Research that fosters Excellence in Manufacturing Business. The Prize-dubbed the Nobel Prize for Manufacturing-recognizes and promotes awareness of research on lean manufacturing processes in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Lean manufacturing is a business model and a collection of manufacturing methods that emphasize continuous improvements to speed up production times, deliver high quality, low-cost products, and eliminate waste.
EPA was recognized in the Research Awards Category for Applied Publications / Multimedia Programs for its report, Lean Manufacturing and the Environment: Research on Advanced Manufacturing Systems and the Environment and Recommendations for Leveraging Environmental Performance (PDF, 68 pages, 524 KB, About PDF).
The report describes survey results of lean manufacturing practices and examines the relationship between lean manufacturing and environmental performance. It also recommends actions that EPA and environmental professionals can take to improve environmental performance associated with lean manufacturing processes. As a result, the Agency is pursuing multiple partnerships to showcase how lean manufacturing can be integrated with other environmental decision-making tools. Other EPA efforts involve field testing flexible ways for lean manufacturers to innovate and quickly respond to market trends while providing sound environmental protection.
The Shingo Prize 
for Excellence in Manufacturing was established in 1988, and is named for Japanese industrial engineer Shigeo Shingo. Dr. Shingo distinguished himself as one of the world's leading experts in improving manufacturing processes, and has been described as an "engineering genius" who helped create and write about many aspects of revolutionary manufacturing practices.
Improving Environmental Performance through Lean and EMS Integration
In October 2004, the U.S. EPA Sector Strategies Program produced a report (PDF, 15 pages, 14KB, About PDF) that profiles Findings and Recommendations on Lean Production and Environmental Management Systems in the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Sector. Recognizing that lean production-a leading business model being applied in many sectors of the U.S. economy-and EMS both affect environmental performance, EPA initiated research to better understand the relationship between lean and EMS. The report, which is based on interviews with managers at five shipyards, concludes that lean and EMS are compatible and synergistic approaches. The report also describes strategies that organizations have used and/or could use to improve their environmental performance and reduce costs by combining lean and environmental management practices.