WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio – Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation (SWAFC) has introduced EcoLean, an exclusive suite of training and services the company says is an industry first, combining lean production and green business solutions to allow collision repair shops to take advantage of these two important disciplines through a sustainable program to drive profitability through the reduction of waste.
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EcoLean was built around an idea that Sherwin-Williams calls P3, designed to help body shops improve their Productivity and Profitability, while working toward a healthier Planet.
“We see the market moving rapidly toward leaner and more environmentally responsible business models, and we have built a compelling set of tools and services to help our customers drive efficiency and reduce waste, both financial and environmental,” says SWAFC Manager–Marketing Strategic Programs Rodes Brown.
The program will include exclusive EcoLean training workshops, consulting services and a shop assessment. The soon-to-be released assessment will include tools to generate measurable energy reductions using equipment solutions and Sherwin-Williams products. It is designed to enable a collision center to identify areas of greatest environmental waste, build a waste reduction plan and track the results.
To kick off the new program, SWAFC will hold an A-Plus University EcoLean workshop in Los Angeles on March 11-12, 2009. The EcoLean workshop has been developed for collision shop owners and managers who are interested in leveraging the power of lean production as well as eco-friendly business solutions. The courses offered include:
• Introduction to EcoLean: A course covering the use of environmentally responsible business solutions. This class will supply techniques for shops to create a waste reduction plan, and show them how to measure improvements.
• Improving Workshop Efficiency: A course focused on the theory and mechanics of lean production. Participants will learn how to understand and implement process improvement. The course covers methods to utilize people, space and equipment for maximum effectiveness.
• Principles of 5S: A course centered around the importance of eliminating clutter inside a collision center, and how to leverage the power of a clean, disciplined environment to deliver superior quality and consistency.
• Building a Lean Culture: A course covering the importance of building a lean culture inside a collision repair center from the ground up.
To register for the EcoLean A-Plus University online, go to www.sherwin-automotive.com/en/Events.aspx. For information on EcoLean, call (804) 433-9690.
