SCA Packaging making “a Toyota”

<h4>For several years now, SCA Packaging has been taking actions to make production in its factories more efficient by using the Lean model. Today, the process has made significant advances in the 35 largest of SCA Packaging’s 200 factories in Europe.</h4>

“We chose the largest ones first to better maximize the benefits from Lean,” says Vincent de Rooij, who heads the project. A natural first step is to take a close look at production lines and the individual machines.

“There, it’s a question of cleaning and keeping things in order to make the job smoother,” he says. “It can be as easy as moving a table that doesn’t fill any function but that employees have to take a few extra steps to get around and has to be dusted by cleaners. It can also mean taking away tools that were left after a particular job.”

Adapting the infrastructure

The other key part involves adapting the infrastructure used in production, from execution and control of operations to governance and planning. “Last but not least, employees should be allowed to influence the change from the very start,” de Rooij says. “In that way, people increase their motivation and the feeling of sharing responsibility.”

Performance board at every machine

At the factories where the Lean model was introduced, there is now a performance board at every machine. “The entries on the boards make it clear what’s expected of each team, and employees can see for themselves how they’re performing,” he says.

The greatest challenge arises once the changes have been implemented. It’s then a question of making sure that the process does not once again stagnate into a routine. So regular inspections are carried out to maintain the new working method.

The more efficient process means that costs are cut and the resources freed up are used to raise quality. Because customers’ needs are now being met even better, the market position is strengthened.

Source Shape 4/2009 Text Sven Lindell