(IBM: Armonk, NY) -- The constraints and costs of energy and water usage are rising at an accelerating rate, with a significant effect on business operations and financial performance. In addition, companies are coming under increasing pressure from governments, advocacy groups, investors, prospective employees, and consumers to make their operations, products, and services more socially responsible, particularly regarding the environment.

Green Sigma, developed by IBM, uses the lean Six Sigma principles wherever energy and water are used throughout a client’s operations. Based on lean Six Sigma, a business strategy for carefully analyzing operations to improve overall efficiency, lower costs, increase quality, and add, change or eliminate activities and processes to improve overall performance, Green Sigma consists of a five-phase approach to a client’s operations and environmental practices:

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