Citation
(2007), "Quantum leap into environmental success", Circuit World, Vol. 33 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2007.21733cab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Quantum leap into environmental success
Quantum leap into environmental success
UK-based PCB designer, Quantum CAD, has become the first electronic design bureau to be awarded the Green Dragon Environmental Standard – recognised as one of the top environmental awards in the UK.
The Green Dragon Environmental Standard is an initiative aimed at businesses across Wales to reduce their carbon footprint. Quantum CAD, which provides PCB design services to many of the major electronics based companies across Europe, has spent the last 12 months working towards meeting the demanding environmental goals. The company has invested hundreds of hours carrying out extensive environmental audits of all its processes and practices with an environmental impact, implementing an environmental improvement plan to reduce that environmental impact, and setting up an environmental records system to record and monitor progress towards the company's environmental goals.
Managing Director, Steve Jones said: “Managing our organisation's environmental issues has paid numerous dividends. Green Dragon has helped reduce our costs, attract new customers and comply with legislation. This achievement forms part of our commitment to environmental and social responsibility throughout our work. Quantum has received recognition for its efforts to pioneer a greener way of doing business.”
Marketing Manager, Anna Bastek, who successfully steered Quantum CAD through gaining the standard, said: “We are very proud to be the first company in our sector to meet such a demanding environmental standard. Quantum CAD has always taken its commitment to the environment very seriously but setting ourselves this objective has resulted in significant reductions in the energy we use and the waste we produce. We have found numerous ways to save energy, from the obvious and easy – turning off computer equipment at night – to the more difficult, such as reducing our business travel.”
Quantum CAD has customers throughout the UK and Europe and travelling to client meetings was identified as one of the major environmental costs of the company.
In response, Quantum introduced its web-linked design process. This process enables any electronic design team, no matter where they are based, to view PCB design data in real time from any internet access point, so that they can stay involved in the PCB design process. This innovative process has reduced the number of meetings per job by around 70 percent in the 12 months and has led to increased sales.
Quantum CAD is also looking to introduce a near-paperless office and is spending record sums on innovating and developing new storage and security features for data management.