Success Story—Medegen Medical Manufacturing Services
In 2003, Medegen Medicine Manufacturing Services (Medegen MMS) became the first health-care supplier to undergo the Green Suppliers Network's lean and green review. Medegen MMS, an injection-molded parts supplier to the health-care industry, is located in Ontario, California, and employs 180 workers.
Facing California's strict waste requirements and high-energy costs, Medegen realized early on that they must be as efficient as possible to remain on top of their business. After being invited by one of their largest customers, Medegen jumped at the chance to participate in a Green Suppliers Network review. They assembled a cross-functional team including material managers, accounting, engineering, quality control, and manufacturing floor employees to participate in the process. As part of the Green Suppliers Network review team, California Manufacturing Technology Consultants, the local Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, worked with Medegen to identify 13 lean and green opportunities. In less than two years, Medegen implemented nine of the review recommendations, realizing significant cost savings and environmental improvements along the way. Here is what they have achieved:
- Energy and Hazardous Waste: Invested in six energy-efficient injection-mold presses enabling the company to retire 14 old presses, eliminating 660 gallons of hydraulic oil wastes annually.
- Hazardous Waste and Toxics: Changing the injection mold cleaning method to one that uses ultrasonic cleaning tanks and a mild citric acid resulted in a 50-percent reduction in hazardous waste generated. Eliminating kerosene, acetone, and cleaning cloths saved the company waste removal costs.
- Energy: By replacing their water cooling system with a machine that responds to actual cooling demand requirements, Medegen reduced its electrical energy consumption and cost by 2.3 percent annually.
- Materials Management: Changing the way the plant internally packages products for reuse in its operations has greatly reduced cardboard and plastic waste.
