ABSTRACT
Dana Corporation, a Fortune 200 Company, supplies components to the automotive industry. The Columbia City, Indiana, Brake Products Plant activities are the basis of this presentation. In 1990, senior management of Dana Corporation from the Weatherhead Division assigned a three-person task force to evaluate the eight plants, their processes and environmental practices. The assignment was to eliminate or minimize the cost and liability of the manufacturing processes as it pertains to environmental issues. The personnel assigned to this task force were the personnel responsible for facility engineering, environmental compliance, and capital planning for the three largest facilities. This cross-functional team allowed a review of all plants by personnel with strong experience in operations, environmental, and manufacturing. Waste minimization is a practice that can be implemented in any type of manufacturing environment. It takes commitment from all levels of the corporate structure, from the president to the shipping clerk.
