Entek International

The site will discuss how it selected, trained and introduced the appropriate Lean tools for its continual improvement journey. In particular the visit will focus on 5S, visual management, autonomous maintenance, standard operating procedures, focussed improvement and Kaizen.

Recent plant changes have required an expansion of the training effort within the company. The plant trainer will discuss how he has used training plans, training matrices, class room technical sessions, workbooks, training diaries, lean workshops etc. to help achieve this. In addition the visit will include a presentation on the site’s employee performance review system, and how it links to company profitability and individual performance. The team will talk about how individual accomplishments, appraised behavioural criteria and objectives are linked to personal bonuses, which in turn are aligned to business metrics. The visit will include how recognition programmes for attendance and accident reduction have contributed to improved safety and lower absence levels. Each person is tasked with producing a minimum of two implemented improvement ideas per month. Most are small and symbolic of a culture shift. Some are real gems and save £thousands. All contribute to the spirit of improvement and culture change which the company has fostered over the last few years. The host team will talk about how they set about developing their leaders to help create a team capable of managing a Lean transformation. The site recognises there is an enormous amount of work still to do, and can talk from experience about the challenges of taking a brown field site and embarking on a Lean culture change. As we all know – it’s not easy!