Flextronics, the Good Neighbor

Flextronics maintains an open-door policy with the neighbors around its Youngsville plant, where they make circuit boards and optical network equipment. Their Environmental Management System, which guarantees an environmentally clean and safe plant, is open for public review. The plan was created as part of becoming ISO 14001 registered, which means Flextronics maintains an international standard of environmental performance.

Reaching that tough ISO 14001 standard took months of hard work. Flextronics Directory of Quality Ray Valdillez gives much of the credit to the Industrial Extension Service at NC State University, particularly environmental engineer Charlie Parrish, who provided both training and technical advice. In the process they reduced the plant’s hazardous waste to almost nothing – meeting not only ISO 14001 requirements, but also the expectations of neighbors and customers.

The Industrial Extension service brings NC State’s vast expertise to real business. More than 1,000 North Carolina companies asked IES last year for assistance to implement Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing or to become ISO registered, or to learn how to be both environmentally friendly and profitable.

These companies reported $93 million in economic impact from IES services last year. Profits grew and jobs were saved. With IES offices throughout North Carolina, we can help your business, too.



December 2002