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Review Team Guide

This information will help state environmental experts and local MEP centers understand their respective roles, as well as the roles of EPA and NIST MEP, in the Green Suppliers Network process. This is meant to be a starting point for discussion and not a prescription for the service delivery. We understand that reviews will vary in every area depending on local resources, infrastructure, and expertise.

In addition to reviewing this guide, the Online Training Course was developed to help you prepare for the Green Suppliers Network technical review. This resource will explain the Lean and Green Advantage, demonstrate value stream mapping techniques, and introduce you to tools that capture real results.

Step 1. Assemble Green Suppliers Network Review Team

EPA will assist in assembling the review team by locating and forming a relationship with the appropriate state environmental expert. If one is not available, the local MEP must supply an environmental expert. EPA will provide guidelines to local MEP to ensure that they meet the required environmental qualifications.

At the same time, NIST MEP engages the local MEP center. If the local MEP and state environmental expert are new to the Green Suppliers Network, EPA will sponsor a "train the trainer" session that describes the technical review process and lessons learned. If requested, EPA will send meeting notes to serve as an informal agreement between the local MEP and state environmental expert to conduct the Green Suppliers Network reviews.

The local MEP and state environmental expert coordinate the details of the Green Suppliers Network review including:

  • What information and data are required of Partner and how to collect it (e.g., Transformation Planner or other benchmarking tools).
  • Overview of value stream mapping (VSM) process and how environmental factors integrate into value stream map (VSM)/process map.
  • Roles and responsibilities.
  • Agenda, format, and schedule of onsite Green Suppliers Network review visits with Partner.
  • Materials including integrated presentation and information about state/MEP resources.
  • Follow up and technical assistance

NOTE: We recommend face-to-face meetings.

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Step 2. Prepare for Green Suppliers Network Review

Next, the review team contacts the Partner to schedule and conduct an introductory phone call of what to expect during the review process. The review team can also send a fact sheet, which can be customized with logos and contact information, and a contract to the Partner for signature prior to the meeting.

In preparation for the meeting, the Partner works with the review team to begin collecting baseline data. We recommend that the review team use the Green Suppliers Network Calculator (MS Excel, 1.34 KB), the Transformational Planner, or similar benchmarking tools.

The review team meets with the Partner's primary contact for a half day to do a facility walk-through. The review team should observe and gather data to get a sense of the issues, and begin to identify an appropriate product/process line for VSM/process mapping.

NOTE: Partners have 90 days from the commitment date to sign a contract with the local MEP. The Partner can return the signed contract at this meeting.

Lastly, the Partner provides any remaining data or information needed by the local MEP and state environmental expert so that the local MEP can compile the data and prepare for review.

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Step 3. Conduct Green Suppliers Network Training and Review

The review team begins the onsite activities by providing the supplier with a brief overview of lean and green manufacturing strategies and an in-depth training on value stream and process mapping techniques, and discusses how these concepts integrate lean and green techniques and how they can be employed at the process level.

The review team then leads a collaborative effort to create a "current state" VSM of the identified product/process line. Basic information on how to incorporate lean and green in a VSM is available in these VSM training videos and a Primer on Value Stream Mapping (PDF, 11 pp, 179 KB). The map should examine areas that offer the greatest potential for lean and green improvement such as:

  • Inventory
  • Inputs
  • Outputs
  • Wastes
  • Non-value-added steps
  • Worker safety issues
  • Energy consumption
  • Bottlenecks
  • Rework
  • Other

The review team should collect environmental metrics data on the specific process being evaluated only. If process specific data are not available, the review team estimates values from facility-level data. The review team calculates percent reductions by comparing baseline values with improvement opportunities. The review team's environmental expert is responsible for integrating environmental health and safety factors into the VSM and identifying pollution prevention opportunities for the selected product/process line.

Once the current state VSM is completed, the review team leads a collaborative effort to create a "future state" map of the identified product/process line that includes lean and green improvement recommendations made by the group. Assume a future state map is not limited by capital restraints. It should represent a fully optimized line in its ideal state.

After the review is completed, the review team helps Partners prioritize the environmental improvements and directs them to other resources. Improvement opportunities should be prioritized so that "low hanging fruit" are addressed first and set plans to reach long-term goals.

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Step 4. Provide Final Report and Offer Technical Assistance

Local MEP generates final report with state environmental expert providing information and text on environmental recommendations within four weeks of review. The report should include:

  • List of team members
  • Summary of the opportunity analysis from Transformation Planner or other benchmarking/baseline efforts
  • Summaries of current and future state maps
  • Identified lean opportunities
  • Identified green opportunities
  • Recommended next steps (e.g., technical assistance, increased staffing, product or new equipment research)
  • Cost-savings potential

The local MEP sends the final report to the Partner. One week after the final report is sent, the review team conducts a follow-up call with the Partner to answer questions regarding the report and determine what technical assistance the local Green Suppliers Network team can provide. During this time, remind the Partner that the MEP follow-up survey process will occur approximately one year from time of review. The local MEP also submits the final report to NIST MEP for payment upon completion of review.

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Step 5. Conduct Follow-up Survey

NIST MEP, via independent contractor, conducts a follow-up survey with the Partner 12 months after review.

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Step 6. Aggregate Results and Measure Success

NIST MEP compiles survey results from the projects in batches of five and notifies EPA when results are available. EPA then conveys aggregate data (after five supplier reviews are complete to maintain confidentiality) to the public and appropriate Corporate Champion.

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