Delphi-Grand Rapids is a Clean Corporate Citizen
10 November 1997
Delphi-Grand Rapids is a Clean Corporate Citizen
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 10 -- Delphi Energy & Engine Management
Systems' valve lifter plant in Grand Rapids, Mich., has earned designation as
a Clean Corporate Citizen by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Michigan's new program recognizes the corporate environmental leadership
of companies that develop and implement an environmental management system,
follow a written pollution prevention policy, and demonstrate a strong
environmental compliance record.
Benefits of the designation include faster processing of construction and
operating air permits, expedited reviews, and use of plant-wide applicability
limits. Each of those elements could reduce lead time in the permitting
process.
Michigan Governor John Engler awarded Clean Corporate Citizen certificates
of recognition to the Delphi plant and to Ford and Chrysler plants in Sterling
Heights, Mich., at a news conference at the Automotive Hall of Fame in
Dearborn, Mich., Monday. The Delphi plant was the first to apply and gain
approval for the designation.
"Delphi, General Motors and the UAW are dedicated to protecting human
health, natural resources, and the global environment. We reach further than
compliance with the law. We follow our environmental policies as integrated
business practice," said J.T. Battenberg III, Delphi president, who accepted
the award.
"We are proud that our Grand Rapids plant has demonstrated environmental
leadership," Battenberg said. "Credit for the designation goes to a broad
team involved in environmental direction at GM, Delphi and the UAW. We are
extremely pleased to be called a Clean Corporate Citizen and we appreciate
your trust that we will continue that leadership."
"In our plant, every employee is responsible for specific environmental
practices. They know them, they have been trained to follow them, and they
faithfully perform them," said Ronald T. Korte, Delphi-Grand Rapids plant
manager.
"Our employees are personally committed to preserving and improving our
environment, especially in the workplace, and our Quality Council makes sure
we follow our defined procedures and push for continuous improvement," said
Don Rebentisch, UAW Local 167 chairman.
Over the last five years, Delphi-Grand Rapids has cut emissions of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 90 percent and reduced its hazardous waste
streams from 12 to two and, by the end of this year, down to one, according to
Ronald Blouw, environmental manager at the plant.
"Most recently, we have been concentrating on recycling process fluids and
already this year have saved more than $75,000," Blouw said.
Delphi's Grand Rapids plant builds about a half-million valve lifters a
day for engines in GM cars and trucks, for the aftermarket, and for non-GM
customers. About one-third of the plant's production is shipped overseas to
customers such as Daewoo, Opel, Holdens, Toyota, Rover, and Suzuki. The plant
employs about 1,200 men and women who work in more than 100 cross functional
synchronous implementation and planned maintenance teams to focus on customer
enthusiasm and continuous improvement.
Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems is a division of Delphi
Automotive Systems, with lead responsibility for the generation, conversion
and storage of electrical energy, the flow of air and fuel into an engine, the
combustion process and cleaning of exhaust emissions. Headquartered in Flint,
Mich., the division operates in 35 manufacturing plants, 10 engineering
centers and 18 sales offices in 21 countries.
Delphi Automotive Systems, headquartered in Troy, Mich., is the world's
largest and most diversified supplier of automotive components and systems.
Delphi operates 198 manufacturing facilities, 46 ventures and 176 technical
centers in 35 countries. Regional headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan;
Paris, France; and Sao Paulo, Brasil.
Delphi can be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com.
SOURCE Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems