Introduction

ITT products range from tiny electronic connectors to huge space telescope mirrors. No matter their size, all of our products have an impact on the people who use them and the environment in which they operate – while they are in use and after they no longer function. That's why, from design to manufacture, purchase, use and ultimate disposal, we take responsibility for the safety and environmental impact of each product through its full lifecycle.

Our products are Engineered for life

Our responsibility doesn't end when the product leaves the plant. We repair and retrofit equipment to maximize sustainability. We also recycle materials such as steel when a product reaches the end of its useful life, and specify recycled and recyclable materials in new products whenever possible and cost effective.

Our products are optimized for safety

The ITT product safety program ensures that engineers and designers consider safety early in the product development process, both from a manufacturing and product usage standpoint. Product safety review boards are active at all of our design centers worldwide.

Lean Transformation of our manufacturing is a top priority

Lean Transformation involves employees at all levels to streamline operations and reduce waste. Scorecards for expectations and duties are helping to create more efficient processes.

Challenge

Challenge: Balancing performance and competitive advantage against safety and end-of-life issues.

Status

Commitment

• To recognize the impact our products have on people and the environment during their entire life cycle – from their manufacture to the end of their useful life – and invest in research and development initiatives to reduce overall ecological impact of products while continually improving safety.

Principal Strategies

• Increase our focus on end-of-life issues – with an emphasis on recycling – for all our product lines.
• Provide ongoing product safety training at ITT production sites and design centers.
• Audit the performance of our product safety efforts.

Recent Progress

• Deployed product safety training at all legacy and new centers.
• Consolidated suppliers and implemented a data collection system for ITT's global supply chain to increase efficiencies in costs and decrease waste.
• Conducted fail-safe planning for customer safety, especially for moving and installing major equipment.
• Extended our program eliminating high-hazard materials and processes to newly acquired operations.

2009-2010 Priorities

• Continue to identify ways to eliminate waste and hazardous materials in research, development and product design.
• Continue miniaturization of defense electronics to improve performance and reduce the amount of materials needed to produce equipment.
• Maintain equipment designed for long-term use and repair/update it rather than replace it whenever possible.
• Spend at least 5% of total procurement dollars with small and minority-owned suppliers.
• Continue to provide regulatory analysis tools and training to our product developers.