AT&T ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY

The document outlines a pedagogical approach to teaching Total Quality Environmental Management (TQEM) using AT&T as a primary example. It details the use of process flow diagrams to identify risks associated with hazardous substances like 1,1,1 trichloroethane (TCA) and perchloroethylene (PERC), and discusses various measurement frameworks for environmental performance, including scientific data, management data, and systems assessment tools like the GEMI Self-Assessment Program.

• AT&T successfully applied TQM methods to eliminate the use of perchloroethylene (PERC) at its Columbus Works by addressing the root cause—excess flux on circuit boards—and redesigning the process to use a low-solids flux, which removed the need for cleaning entirely.
• The removal of the PERC cleaning step at the soldering cell resulted in significant operational improvements, including reducing average throughput time from eight days to four days and saving $5,000 per month in scrap costs.
• AT&T established ambitious corporate environmental goals, achieving the total elimination of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) usage by May 15, 1993, and reducing reportable toxic air emissions by 81% by 1992 against a 1987 baseline of 11,500,000 pounds.
• Environmental performance measurement is categorized into three types: scientific data (e.g., physical emissions), management data (e.g., cost savings and compliance), and systems assessment data (e.g., self-assessment matrices and certifications).
• The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) developed a Self-Assessment Program based on sixteen principles from the International Chamber of Commerce Business Charter for Sustainable Development, scoring firms on a four-point scale from 'Compliance' to 'Total Quality Approach'.
• Legal risks for corporate executives have increased, with the 'responsible corporate officer liability doctrine' allowing prosecution for negligence even if the executive was unaware of specific improper chemical storage by subordinates.

APA

Patell, J. (1994). AT&T ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY. World Resources Institute. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-127-6_teaching_note_english.pdf

Chicago

Patell, James. AT&T ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY. World Resources Institute, 1994. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-127-6_teaching_note_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Patell |first1=James |title=AT&T ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=1994 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-127-6_teaching_note_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{patell1994att, author = {Patell, James}, title = {{AT\&T ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {1994}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-127-6_teaching_note_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }