Money to Burn: Why Manufacturing Profits Go Up in Smoke

Abstract

This article is fiction in the truest sense. “Castiform Plastics,” and the
characters involved, are all imaginary; any similarity to real companies and
persons is coincidental. But while the “fabric” is fiction, the “threads” come
from true stories—anecdotes shared at conferences, workshops, and plant visits.
Understandably, no industry professional wants unflattering comments about
their facilities to be published. That does not diminish the learning value that
comes from observing others’ mistakes. This article was assembled from confi-
dential anecdotes collected over the past five years. The intent is to illustrate the
stop-and-start nature that characterizes so many energy management efforts,
ultimately resulting in business impacts that fall far short of their potential.