EDITOR’S QUESTION
Extending green
commitment to
the channel
Only by working together
can we ensure an overall
greener industry; from
design and planning, to
manufacturing, delivery
and inventory says Prem
Rodrigues, Sales and
Marketing Director for
India, Middle East and
SAARC at Siemon.
Y
ear after year, an increasing
number of companies are
updating their facilities to
ensure sustainability, create a healthier
environment for employees, lessen the
negative environmental impact and cut
energy costs.
A key aspect of going green is the
ability to gather and analyse building
intelligence from various sensors and
devices throughout a facility, such as data
on occupancy levels, energy consumption,
temperature, humidity and daylight. A truly
intelligent building converges building
systems – security, HVAC and lighting for
example – onto a single IP-based cabling
infrastructure that allows these systems
to integrate and share information for
better control and efficiency. For example,
occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting
sensors allow facilities to automatically
turn lights on only when needed, or scale
back unnecessary heating and cooling.
While cabling and connectivity
manufacturers supply the components
to build a converged infrastructure
for intelligent buildings, it’s also a
bonus when that manufacturer itself
A
s a manufacturer
and designer of
network cabling
and coupling devices,
how can the channel
adopt a greener policy
when offering solutions
to customers?
Prem Rodrigues, Sales and Marketing Director
for India, Middle East and SAARC at Siemon.
conducts business in an environmentally
responsible and ethical manner. This can
also help distributors, installation partners
and the end customer alike become more
green and improve sustainability.
Quality, green manufacturers extend
their environmental commitment out to
the channel in a variety of ways. Global
manufacturers with strategically located
regional warehouse centres can help
cut down on freight and shipping costs.
At the same time, manufacturers with
strategic logistics capabilities are keen
to carefully kit and batch ship products
together to reduce unnecessary freight and
associated fuel consumption. To achieve
this, a manufacturer needs to be intimately
involved with projects to properly plan,
stock and stage inventory in a way that
enables efficient movement of products.
For example, if 1,000 patch cords are
required for the first phase of a project and
another 1,000 more will be required for the
second phase, the manufacturer needs to
collaborate closely with channel partners
and customers to be aware of current and
future project needs so they can batch ship
all the patch cords together.
Offering bulk packaging options is
another way that green manufacturers help
the channel reduce waste out in the field.
While this may seem like a small effort,
when you consider the potential amount of
packaging to thousands of customers around
the world, it can certainly add up, not to
mention the fact that the more packages that
need to be opened and disposed of means
more time and labour is required. Working
with manufacturers who pride themselves
on being green often means they are ready
to work with channel partners to either
accept returned packaging for recycling or
help identify local recycling options and
provide waste handling guidance.
While quality green manufacturers with
strategic shipping, logistics and inventory
planning can help the channel adopt a
greener policy, solid and collaborative
relationships between manufacturers,
distribution partners, installers and end
customers where all parties consistently
and effectively communicate is imperative
to maximising efficiency. Only by working
together can we ensure an overall greener
industry; from design and planning, to
manufacturing, delivery and inventory.
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