Siemens invests Euro 100M to improve its environmental performance worldwide
In order to improve the energy and environmental records of its factories, Siemens is currently carrying out an inspection of its own production facilities, using the latest products of its Environmental Portfolio for the purpose. However, the supply chain does not begin at the factory gates - noticeable improvements could also be achieved with the supply firms. Siemens works particularly closely with around 1,000 suppliers. They were selected for their high purchasing volume and particularly energy-intensive production processes with energy accounting for up to 45 percent of their costs. They are thus particularly important if the energy consumption of Siemens' entire supply chain is to be permanently reduced. The 80 largest suppliers among them are to undergo an environmental and energy check by Siemens experts around once a week. A further approximately 80 suppliers are undertaking a one- to three-day check with the help of Siemens specialists. More than 800 are to make their own, web-based check. The remaining suppliers can carry out a shortened environmental check for their company online. Twelve suppliers, most of them with energy-intensive production processes, have already been checked. In every case there was scope for reducing the costs. Depending on the size of the production facility, energy and resource consumption could potentially be reduced by an average of almost 15 percent.