Case Study - Sears Manufacturing Company
Sears Manufacturing Company’s
How
ISO 14001 Environment Management System
is reducing waste and increasing revenue
Excellence. Assured.
2
The Challenge:
“We always end up
a better company
with the things that
come out of these
audits, whether they
are internal with our
auditors or external
with SAI Global’s
To reduce their impact on the environment through
a commitment to continual improvement
Company Overview:
Sears Manufacturing Company is a fifth generation, 177 year-old, family-owned business in
Davenport, Iowa. Sears Manufacturing is one of the leading manufacturers of suspension
and non-suspension seating for agricultural, construction and industrial equipment, as well
as on-the-road trucks. Sears Manufacturing is also a major seat supplier to many other
companies around the world.
Sears Manufacturing has two North American facilities, both located in Davenport,
Iowa. The main plant on South Concord Street consists of corporate offices, primary
processes (foam molding, welding and paint), as well as off-road assembly. This facility is
approximately 300,000 square feet, runs two shifts of assembly, three shifts for the primary
processes, and has around 550 employees. Sears Manufacturing operates a second
facility, one mile from the main plant on Kimmel Drive. The Kimmel facility has on-highway
truck sales, a sewing department as well as all on-highway assembly. The Kimmel facility
is 60,000 square feet, runs a one shift operation, and has around 60 employees.
auditors.”
– Robert Schladetzky,
Manager of
Manufacturing
Engineering, Sears
Manufacturing
Company
Challenge Details:
Sears Manufacturing has been an ISO 9001 certified supplier since 1993, and was working
to become certified to the ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS). The
ISO 14001 standard requires companies to have a program to reduce their impact on the
environment through a commitment to continual improvement.
While Sears Manufacturing already had some initiatives in place that created an
environment of improvement, they wanted to build upon those efforts:
▪▪ Standardize capabilities while meeting specific manufacturing requirements
▪▪ Energy reduction and cost measures
▪▪ Waste reduction and cost measures
▪▪ Standardized documentation control beyond the Health & Safety Department for audits
▪▪ Meet client-driven demand for ISO 14001 certification
SAI GLOBAL | Customer Success Story | Sears Manufacturing Company
www.saiglobal.com/assurance
3
The Solution:
“We call [ISO
14001] the gift that
keeps on giving.
When we make
improvements in
With the ISO 9001 certification already in place, Sears Manufacturing Company’s
management team was prepared for the challenges of ISO 14001 certification. In addition,
the company had many green initiatives established, so becoming ISO 14001 certified was
a logical next step. The ISO 14001 certification would fulfill their responsibilities to their
clients and the environment, as well as reduce energy and waste removal costs between
both North American facilities.
With a top management-driven commitment, including the VP of Operations, the Manager
of Manufacturing Engineering, the Director of Quality, a dedicated internal auditor, and a
knowledgeable in-house training team, Sears Manufacturing concentrated on planning and
developing a focused, results-based ISO 14001 environmental management system.
the shop, recycling
projects, or
whatever you do to
get that reduction
year after year... if
we would’ve had to
start from scratch, it
would’ve been a lot
of work. We’re not
just using 14001
to guide current
programs, but to
look forward to
other opportunities
Sears Manufacturing - Steps to ISO 14001 Success
Looking back, Sears Manufacturing identified several efforts that were crucial to their
success:
▪▪ Understand the requirements for ISO 14001 and embrace the changes that this
certification brings to the company on all levels
▪▪ Learn and practice the specific legal requirements for chemical storage and use at both
North American facilities
▪▪ Extend documentation control duties of all chemicals and materials beyond the Health &
Safety Manager
▪▪ Provide in-house training on information related to ISO 14001 to management,
department supervisors, and facility managers
▪▪ Meet equipment requirements and regulations through standardized documentation and
routine maintenance inspections
▪▪ Reduce energy output and practice energy conservation through internal improvement
initiatives
▪▪ Launch recycling paper programs by investing in proper collection receptacles, bailers,
and related equipment
▪▪ Implement plastic waste recycling by separating plastic materials into recycling bins
located throughout the plant
▪▪ Hire an external consultant to educate clients on green initiatives instituted by the
company
▪▪ Meet client demand for ISO 14001 certification
and projects.”
– Steve Lovejoy,
VP of Operations,
Sears Manufacturing
Company
SAI GLOBAL | Customer Success Story | Sears Manufacturing Company
www.saiglobal.com/assurance
4
“We had been
doing business with
SAI Global and had
a good working
relationship, so
it was an easy
decision. We just
automatically
assumed we would
work with SAI
SAI Global was already the auditing and certification body for Sears Manufacturing
Company’s ISO 9001 initiative. This is why Sears Manufacturing’s decision was easy when
it came to implementing ISO 14001 environmental management system.
THE RESULTS HAVE GARNERED AN ISO 14001 CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AT
SEARS MANUFACTURING AS OF JUNE 13TH, 2012.
This means that Sears Manufacturing operates an environmental management system that
analyzes all operations and services within their influential control and attempts to reduce
impact to people and planet to advance prosperity of their community.
▪▪ There has been a 57% reduction in waste going to the landfill and an annual savings of
$33,000 saved in waste conversion
▪▪ Energy output use has been reduced by 15% with a savings of $63,000 annually
▪▪ A first-year $2,200 revenue on recycling operations
▪▪ Standardized documentation and better document control has made auditing more
streamlined and efficient
▪▪ Able to look forward to other opportunities and projects in the community, including
Xstream Cleanup, Living Lands and Waters, and tree-planting/donation programs
Global... they are a
reputable company.
[They] just don’t do
some training and
automatically give
out a certificate.”
– Eric Behymer,
Director of Quality,
Sears Manufacturing
Company
SAI Global, North America’s leading management system registrar, has
certified facilities all over the world, including Sears Manufacturing Company,
who has demonstrated a continual commitment to improving the environment
through recycling efforts, energy conservation, and community involvement.
CONTACT SAI GLOBAL
(800) 465-3717
certification.americas@saiglobal.com
www.saiglobal.com/assurance
SAI GLOBAL | Customer Success Story | Sears Manufacturing Company
www.saiglobal.com/assurance