Embracing Sustainability: A Case Study of Visual Marking Systems
By Mike Schmidt, Director of Industry Communications, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
In today’s corporate environment, “sustainability” encompasses various aspects, including environmental impact, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term business resilience. For Visual Marking Systems (VMS), a Twinsburg, Ohio-based company specializing in digital, screen, and wide-format printing solutions, sustainability is deeply integrated into their operations, transcending basic compliance and waste reduction.
VMS’s Holistic Approach
VMS focuses on three main pillars: environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. President Eric Kahle emphasizes the importance of embedding sustainability into everyday business practices rather than treating it as a separate initiative.
Key Operational Initiatives
VMS has adopted several operational strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce waste, including:
- LEAN manufacturing principles: Aimed at optimizing processes and minimizing waste.
- Recycling programs:
- HP Planet Partners: Ensuring printing supplies are recycled through a closed-loop process.
- Collaboration with insulation manufacturers to repurpose waste materials.
These initiatives are supplemented by investments in energy-efficient facilities and equipment and offering customers recyclable material options.
Alignment with Core Values
VMS aligns its sustainability efforts with its core organizational values:
- Customer Focus
- Education
- Empowerment
- Innovation
- Profitability
- Urgency
Kahle states that empowering employees to identify opportunities for improvement is crucial. The company works closely with customers to understand their sustainability goals.
Continuous Improvement
VMS adopts a continuous improvement approach, frequently evaluating new technologies and materials to reduce waste and energy consumption while ensuring high quality.
Kahle notes that staying attuned to customer requirements is essential, as sustainability criteria are increasingly part of the onboarding process for large organizations.
Key Takeaways for Other Companies
VMS’s experience provides valuable insights for other companies looking to enhance their sustainability efforts:
- Start small: Companies don’t need to implement massive sustainability programs from the outset.
- Utilize LEAN principles: A solid starting point for identifying waste reduction opportunities.
- Ask critical questions: Understand where waste is generated, identify recyclable materials, and evaluate energy consumption.
The Business Strategy Behind Sustainability
Integrating sustainability into everyday business operations transforms it into a practice that benefits both the company and the environment. Kahle highlights that large companies often require partners to have a sustainability framework.
By starting small and gradually publishing their achievements, organizations can effectively demonstrate progress and commit to sustainable practices.
Sustainability is not just a trend; it is becoming essential for long-term business viability. Companies can create meaningful impacts by embedding sustainability in their core operations.
