Making Manufacturing Lean and Green
Economy of production and good stewardship go together in lean manufacturing practices, which minimize waste, cost and energy consumption. One measure of Raytheon's success as a lean manufacturer is that since 2004, we have been honored eight times with the Shingo Prize, one of the premier manufacturing recognition programs in North America. In 2007, Raytheon received two Shingo awards: Missile Systems' Louisville, Ky., facility received a national Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, and Integrated Defense Systems' Seapower Capability Center in Portsmouth, R.I., received a Northeast Shingo Gold Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing.
In addition to efficiency gains, we also rigorously pursue ways to eliminate the use of potentially harmful chemicals in our products and manufacturing processes. In 2007, Raytheon teams held internal summits on lean manufacturing and energy. Insights from these summits have resulted in improved measures to eliminate materials restricted or prohibited by European Union standards. Raytheon also continues to invest in alloys and processes to implement greener manufacturing methods. By using powder coatings to provide corrosion resistance instead of traditional wet coatings, we have avoided the production of volatile organic compounds and hazardous waste.
Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson gave the opening remarks at the company’s Energy Conservation Summit 2007. The summit profiled each business’ programs and progress in energy management and highlighted additional opportunities in the areas of supplier engagement, energy procurement, green buildings and facility upgrades, renewable energy applications and employee engagement.
