Vendor Viewpoint
percent of the water used is recycled. Of course quality is not sacrificed. The latest, 5-axis CNC milling tools are capable of creating the complex three dimensional shapes required by our pumps in a single operation. Advanced coordinate measuring tools enable those tools to manufacture parts with high precision. A lean manufacturing workflow minimizes unnecessary movement of people, parts and tools. Unidirectional flow, from materials in to finished products out, reduces opportunities for contamination. Kanbans and just-in-time scheduling keep parts inventories at a minimum. All products are fully tested and all parts are fully traceable.
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The new plant has 25,000 square meters of floor space and the capacity to produce 25,000 pumps annually
a model for manufacturing operations that achieve both economic and environmental goals. Edwards is a global company with major manufacturing operations in many countries around the world. We have had a manufacturing presence for some time in Asia, with major operations in Korea, Japan and China. Like other global companies, the recent growth in Asia has given us good reason to locate new facilities there, close to our customers and key markets. Last year, nearly 60 percent of our business was in Asia. When it came time to expand our capacity for dry vacuum pumps, Korea, where we already had an assembly operation for pumps used by makers of flat panel displays, was a strong contender. When we selected Korea as the location of the new operation, we also committed to creating a facility that would incorporate all of our best practices and technology for environmentally-responsible manufacturing.
The new plant has 25,000 square meters of floor space and the capacity to produce 25,000 pumps annually. To ensure a stable manufacturing environment, the facility is “closed door” with the interior temperature controlled to within 2°C. The building itself is of double wall construction with an insulating air gap. Double reflective windows reflect energy from the exterior in summer and interior in winter. Most interior lighting is high-efficient LED based, with extensive use of “task lighting” that provides light only where it is needed. Air compressors, used extensively in our operations, incorporate energy-efficient variable speed drives. Water is heated by solar energy. Comprehensive recycling is designed to meet the goal of zero landfill waste. Paint and finishing processes use materials that cure at low temperature to reduce energy consumption by hot air dryers. All cleaning is water based and 95
Remanufacturing is also an important component of our overall strategy. Smaller remanufacturing facilities are distributed throughout the region, currently in Taiwan, China, Singapore, Korea and India. These facilities reflect the same emphasis on lean manufacturing practices, product quality and environmental responsibility. Remanufactured products undergo the same stringent assembly and test procedures applied to new products. Remanufacturing is essentially a recycling program for our own products. It reduces waste that would otherwise be created by scrapping old pumps and reduces cost to our customers - recycled pumps are less costly than new ones. Equally important, the network of recycling facilities brings us closer to our customers and builds local technical expertise that improves support.
By investing in modern manufacturing facilities close to customer base we not only enhance the quality of our products and support, we also ensure viability of Edwards as a global company, benefitting our customers and employees around the world, and at home. For example, the dramatic growth in our Asian markets is a primary driver in our current plans for a new research and development facility in the UK. Ultimately, we believe we are all best served by a company footprint that encompasses both the worldwide distribution of our customers and markets and the historical distribution of our core expertise. Edwards takes very seriously its
responsibilities to its customers, its workforce, and to the global environment. Rather than conflict we see opportunity in the challenge to serve the shared interests of all our constituencies.
© 2011 Angel Business Communications. Permission required.
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com Issue V 2011
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