In a modern, competitive production environment, efficiency, structure and quality are key success factors. At KRAUS Austria, we therefore rely specifically on two proven methods: LEAN management and the 5S principle. Together, both approaches pursue the goal of sustainably optimizing our processes in production and in the warehouse and thus ensuring higher productivity, more safety and consistently high product quality.
LEAN management is based on the five principles of lean thinking
- recognize and define customer value
- analyze and visualize the value stream
- create flow and eliminate waste
- align production according to the pull principle
- constantly striving for perfection
Our aim is to improve the material flow, avoid unnecessary routes and storage times and design processes in such a way that they are optimally coordinated. For example, the individual parts warehouse has been moved closer to the point of consumption. We were able to minimize downtimes and increase production speed by bringing forward order picking and by timing work processes in a targeted manner.
The result: better quality, fewer errors and significantly more efficient production.
The 5S project: structure as a success factor
The 5S project is running in parallel to the LEAN project in our production. The five steps - sort, set, shine, standardize, sustain - help to tidy up workstations, structure them and keep them clean in the long term.
The aim is to achieve a high level of order and clarity, enabling errors to be identified more quickly, safety risks to be reduced and maintenance and cleaning tasks to be clearly assigned.
Labeled storage areas, tidy tools and clear responsibilities ensure that every move is correct and that the team works even more closely together. This creates an environment that not only enables continuous improvement, but actively promotes it.
Current project status: from lighthouse to broad implementation
The project was launched with an intensive workshop and a lighthouse project in the idler roller welding shop.
The success speaks for itself, as the concept is currently being rolled out step by step to the entire production and warehouse.
The focus is not only on implementation, but also on cultural change: change begins in the mind, and the active involvement of all employees is the key to sustainable anchoring.
Structure creates strength
With the LEAN and 5S project, we are consistently positioning ourselves for the optimized, high-quality production of the future.
Shorter paths, clearer processes, cleaner workplaces - all this leads to greater efficiency, higher quality and more satisfied customers. We are proud of the steps we have taken so far and look forward to continuing to work together to create a strong, lean and successful company.
