Resource Saving in Logistics
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Basic approach and related initiatives
OMRON is working hard to conserve resources at the distribution stage. OMRON distribution centers are promoting a returnable container system, which was introduced in fiscal 2002 for transporting products to dealers and in fiscal 2005 for transportation with three OMRON factories.
Also in fiscal 2005, OMRON replaced existing 18-μ-thick stretch film with 10-μ-thick stretch film for use in domestic transportation at five distribution centers in order to reduce the amount of stretch film, which is used to prevent cargo collapse.
Expanded Use of Returnable Container System
The returnable container system has been extended for transportation use between four more factories and distribution centers in order to expand the system to all factories where it can be introduced. We will continue using this system in the future to reduce and limit cardboard usage.
Further Reduction of Stretch Film
In order to further reduce the amount of stretch film used, we have expanded the introduction of 10-μ-thick stretch film to 12 factories where product packaging shapes and pallet loading conditions allow its use.
In connection with the introduction of the returnable container system, a "green band" has also been introduced for container-shaped cargo (i.e., pallets) for transportation between distribution centers and six factories. The green band marks the start of efforts to limit the generation of waste products by not using stretch film. Use of the green band grew to include transportation between distribution centers at the early stage of fiscal 2007, and we plan to further reduce and limit the use of stretch film.
Elimination of Cardboard Pallets from Domestic Transportation
Because of a lack of wooden pallets for domestic transportation, approximately 20% of the pallets used by OMRON were cardboard.
In 2006, a rental pallet system, which enables repeated use of plastic pallets, was introduced and has gone into effect at 15 domestic factory sites and all distribution centers. Calculations show that this system reduces cardboard pallets by approximately 199 tons a year. OMRON plans to continue using the rental pallet system in the future.
