Some view sustainability as recycling paper and installing CFL light bulbs. We’ve taken a different approach to the sustainability of our operations.
When you get serious about sustainability as a manufacturer, you quickly realize that the greatest impact comes from improving operational efficiency and reducing waste. And you also realize that it cannot be a top-down, periodic effort, but rather a program of continuous improvement embraced by all employees.
That’s why we have made major investments in training our workforce in the methods of the Toyota Production System, also known as “lean manufacturing.” The focus is on the reduction of all forms of waste in the production process, and our employees are empowered to devise and implement their own improvement projects on a continual basis. This means that less wood is wasted and less finish chemicals are sprayed, for example. The result is lower costs, higher product quality, and shorter lead times for our customers--and a lighter environmental footprint for our products.
