Key Lessons Learned from Visits to Companies – EMFACT Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA & Rick Reibstein, MA...
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Transcript of Key Lessons Learned from Visits to Companies – EMFACT Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA & Rick Reibstein, MA...
Key Lessons Learned from Visits to Companies – EMFACT
Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA & Rick Reibstein, MA OTA
Contacts with Companies/Groups MA OTA technical assistance staff Devens redevelopment eco-efficiency
group (variety of companies represented) Toxics Use Reduction Planners
Association (individual companies and consultants to companies represented)
Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Wyman Gordon Westfield Electroplating Co
Scope of Conversations
Existing EMFACT systems & capacity?
Motivation for creating systems? Uses of system – reports & value? Track energy use? Track materials/energy costs? Advice on EMFACT
EMFACT Users Continuum Clear there is a continuum of EMFACT capabilities among the businesses and groups we talked to –
No tracking/reporting – particularly true for many very small companies
Some tracking/reporting – related to compliance
Extensive tracking – few companies Not much reporting/analysis/presentation even
among those tracking materials/energy/waste
Existing Systems Devens & TURPA meetings – several
participants in each meeting indicated that their company or clients do have some kind of EMFACT-like systems, but most do not
Visited three companies to see their existing system – one of these companies was recently acquired & no longer is able to track materials use
Motivations for Existing Systems
2 Companies with EMFACT-like systems reported that they established their materials tracking systems because of compliance needs – air permits, TRI reporting, TURA compliance
Home grown systems – databases & spreadsheets
Use of Materials Tracking The EHS staff use their materials tracking system
to keep monthly or periodic tabs on the flow of materials in the facility & to report accurately on toxics use and releases for TRI & TURA
Also has value for some if doing an EMS & P2 Plan
Not used much for ongoing P2 analysis/decisions or cost analysis/decisions
Rapidly growing interest in energy evaluation & reduction; little routine energy tracking - not comprehensive
Not enough time to do reports/analysis except that which is required
Elements of Systems Linked with purchasing Use MSDS data to calculate/track
individual chemical use Track by CAS # Quantity of each chemical/product Sum quantities & track over time Link with purchasing can track
some costs
Elements of Systems
Waste/release estimates – separate but linked system
Process flow diagrams By knowing what is coming in &
what is going out in products/waste/releases gives some idea of what happens to materials in the process
Key Messages on EMFACT Others have tried to develop
similar generic systems for commercial sale with no real success
Need to address where users are currently and start from there
Need to provide guidance and training as much as software – balance emphasis
Key Messages on EMFACT
Critical elements for materials tracking – need way to access MSDS electronically
Need way to link to a wide array of purchasing systems
Modularize the system – enable linkages to be made among elements, but enable users to pick aspects they want to implement
Track scrap per unit of product or production line - demonstrate generation of scrap waste
Key Messages on EMFACT Use standard spread sheet &
database software that people already have – i.e., Excel & Access
Enable users to map process, but focus on materials use– treat the process as a black box
Create useful boiler-plate reports (i.e., using Access)
Key Messages on EMFACT
Provide guidance to existing commercially available software that has includes of EMFACT-like functionality
Create an online MSDS system so can be accessed electronically or let people know where they can get MSDS’ electronically
Key Functions Easy way to develop/maintain process
flow diagrams Materials flow function – linking
purchasing – MSDS – CAS – quantities for individual chemicals; Costs???
Waste-release tracking system Boiler plate reports using visuals (i.e.,
pie charts & graphs) & data presentations
EMFACT Vision that is Emerging All components modular & optional Excel spreadsheet to track materials/water/energy – able
to connect to purchasing system Work with an MSDS system – a community web-based
downloadable framework Link to hazardous waste, other release outputs, &
production & work areas so that user can normalize & produce reports
Create ready-made queries in database like Access that can help user build reports & prompt with the right questions; prompts can be in guidance or other formats
Add module that prompts users to add in relevant costs Link to Process Flow Diagram/s After all of this – compare impacts & costs of alternatives
– NPV & Payback
Key Questions for Advisory Group What are the key reports that the
EMFACT system should be designed to generate?
What are the key visual and numerical outputs?
What do you think about this idea of creating an online source for MSDS? Is that critical?