U.S. Army Engineer Greg Harris,  a UAH CMER graduate of  the Green Enterprise Development Workforce Training program,  recently discussed with The Fort Campbell Courier  his efforts to work with the Army and manufacturers within the Army supply chain to use a systems engineering approach to sustainability.  Scroll down to read an excerpt from his Fort Campbell Courier interview.

SME Green Manufacturing Specialist Graduate – Greg Harris – US Army  (on left ) with Anthony Holden – AL E3 Project Coordinator

Engineer pushes environmental approach in processes

Posted: Thursday, May 30, 2013 6:00 pm

by Heather R. Smith, AMRDEC Public Affairs, The Fort Campbell Courier

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –Words like green and sustainability are often used to refer to recycling, taking better care of the Earth and new or alternative forms of energy, such as solar – or wind-power.

Army engineer Gregory Harris would say it’s much more than that and is working to make that point to the Army and to manufacturers involved in developing the latest military technology.

Harris takes a systems engineering approach to sustainability, which he said includes not just energy, the environment, production and the product, but also sustainability in the work force, technology and product lifecycle.

“When people think of green they think of the environment and energy, but it’s much, much more,” Harris said.

Harris is an engineer in the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s aviation and missile center. He is part of the Manufacturing Science and Technology Division, Engineering Directorate of the Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center where he supports sustainability, supply chain management, model-based enterprise and manufacturing readiness initiatives.

Before joining AMRDEC, Harris was director of the Center for Management and Economic Research and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. It was in this role that Harris first started exploring the idea of sustainability.

“The key is to integrate sustainability into everything you’re doing, both the product and the process,” Harris said.

He recently completed coursework in Purdue University’s Green Enterprise Development Workforce Training Program to become credentialed as a Green Manufacturing Specialist.

Developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Purdue University, the program provides training in the latest green manufacturing practices and ideas through a series of in-depth training modules. After completing 56 hours of classroom instruction and a comprehensive final exam, students have a thorough understanding of the many topics that comprise sustainable manufacturing.

The program, Harris said, encourages manufacturers to change their way of thinking to actively look for ways to incorporate more sustainable, environmentally friendly improvements that have a positive effect on the bottom line.

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