TMAC receives statewide environmental excellence award
TMAC, based at The University of Texas at Arlington, was named the 2020 Texas Environmental Excellence Award winner in the Pollution Prevention category, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced. TCEQ commissioners and Gov. Greg Abbott selected the 10 winners from nine categories based on the recommendations of a committee.
TMAC’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center serves as a state leader in delivering “Lean & Green” technical training and assistance, which combines lean manufacturing practices, energy reductions and environmental best practices to help organizations better understand the value proposition of pollution prevention efforts. In the last 10 years, TMAC has delivered this integrated approach to 112 organizations in Texas, training 1,418 individuals.
TMAC has also partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency and its pollution prevention program for more than 20 years, noted Rodney Reddic, TMAC metroplex regional director.
“We understand the importance of helping our manufacturing community to identify ways to reduce waste, including environmental, energy and water, to maintain its long-term profitability and environmental sustainability,” Reddic said.
TMAC integrates environmental metrics into a traditional lean value-stream mapping process. The addition of these new metrics has generated further annual cost reductions and savings opportunities of 38%.
To date, TMAC’s “Lean & Green” site assessments and trainings have identified reduction opportunities for 62.1 million annual kilowatt hours of electricity, 16,500 tons of solid waste and other decreases resulting in $27.3 million in savings for Texas companies.