As part of my company’s membership of the Best Practice Network I was provided the opportunity to visit Lyondellbasell and Visa Energy recently.
I was part of a small group that went behind the scenes and witnessed Visual Management & Lean Tools in action. This method of presenting had an immediate and encouraging effect on me as the many years of theory in lean was demonstrated so easily and effectively during a live operations meeting, which was conducted professionally, quickly and concisely thanks to a structured format and the use of lean tools. We were treated to a plant tour where many examples of structured systems were evident and observed in their operations, feedback was encouraged and robust.
The group then journeyed to Viva Energy where their electronic scoreboard principals were demonstrated and, the restructuring of the businesses communications systems were championed, these are both stimulants to opportunities in our business.
I found the stories of these companies to be good examples of progressive management and to be granted access to them was a privilege.
Stuart Cousins, Shift Manager, Note Printing Australia Ltd