ERI Home EMS Resources Home Last updated 9/17/03.
The metal finishing industry has contributed more than its share of willing participants to voluntary environmental improvement programs. It is not surprising to find metal finishing firms among the early adopters of an EMS approach. Many metal finishers are also suppliers to industry sectors such as the automotive sector that have put their supply chains on notice that ISO 14001 certification will become a necessary condition for doing business. This added incentive provides even more reason to believe that a significant number of metal finishing firms will institute EMS programs over the next few years.
Nevertheless, the EMS approach faces significant hurdles before its adoption by the metal finishing sector is likely to be widespread. The two most important barriers are:
A concerted effort, growing out of the Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program, is now underway to promote the implementation of EMS programs throughout the metal finishing sector. The outcome will provide a good indication of the prospects for the EMS approach in a variety of similar sectors.
Given the attention that this sector has elicited from regulators and assistance providers, it is not surprising that sector-specific EMS resources are available in greater proportion than the sector's size or economic clout would suggest. The table includes pilot studies with evaluations of actual outcomes of EMS implementation, as well as a full-fledged sector-specific template. In this regard, the sector is well ahead of others.