Promoting Resource Efficiency in Small & Medium size ... - UNEP

A management approach to PRE-SME
3.1 A systematic approach to PRE-SME
Preparing a SME for resource efficient product design and
production is a complex task involving a wide range of
departments from product design to purchasing, production, sales
and maintenance. Therefore, the process needs a synchronized
approach harmonized with the company’s management system .
The underlying methodology for the PRE-SME toolkit is defined on
the basis of the PDCA cycle. The descriptions of the relevant activities
are largely in line with UNIDO’s Cleaner Production Toolkit. 24
3.2 Plan
During the “plan” phase, the following activities are performed:
• Management commitment
• Team formation
• Project planning
Management commitment
The first step in the change process is getting management
commitment. This means introducing the idea of implementing a
Resource Efficiency programme to top management of an SME.
Reasons for Resource Efficiency can be found in the introduction
to this manual and in the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ sections of the thematic
modules of the electronic toolkit (or Chapters 4 to 8 of the manual).
In the end, the prospect to save money from decreasing waste,
energy consumption, chemical consumption, improve compliance
without investing in wastewater treatment and reducing risk will
motivate management to commit to a resource efficient programme.
Team formation
If the size and structure of the company is suitable an
environment team can be set up. In some enterprises, the existing
organizational and informational structure may be suitable to
integrate tasks of the environment team into existing quality
committees or health and safety teams. In small companies with
less than 50 employees, it might be possible to involve staff
during production meetings.
A ‘project champion’ is necessary to coordinate the project. Ask for
a volunteer. His or her tasks include the coordination of the project,
the provision of information and the representation of the project
in front of management. A good mix of committed staff from the
different departments of the company is the best choice for project
champions.
24) Sage J., Fresner J., Engelhardt G., UNIDO Cleaner Production Toolkit, 2005 and 2008
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