Focus on Lean production

The far-reaching introduction of Lean production in 2005 constituted a major cultural change at Electricfil.

Based on production system optimization concepts, the Lean method involves a continuous effort to systematically standardize operations. The aim is to eliminate all aspects of any given job that do not create value. The final objective is to improve the quality of products while reducing the time it takes to produce them. The combination of these two factors generates significant cost reductions for the company.

Multidisciplinary teams at Electricfil have worked hard to systematically identify and eliminate sources of waste and lost during all phases of production processes, i.e. oversized batches, intermediate stocks, wait times, unproductive movement of components and people, tasks without added value, etc.
The technique is being set up on all French sites. Creativity and experimentation play a major role, thus facilitating adoption of the best operator practices. Significant changes have been made, including the organization of production in autonomous production units, reconfiguring production processes in cells rather than in lines, investment in new equipment to better meet market needs, task standardization, smoothing of production rates to make production steadier and avoid wait times, simplification of part flows, elimination of intermediate stocks, space savings, etc.).
All these improvements have enabled a new frame of mind that contributes to greater productivity, flexibility and reliability in production processes
The spectacular results coming from these first test sites show that, thanks to Lean methods, a factory in France can be as competitive as one located in a low-cost country. Consequently, Electricfil is deploying Lean production across all the Group's industrial sites, while working to consolidate the improved levels of performance.