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Making it LEAN – creating more value for customers

In connection with Fit for Growth program and continuous improvement measures Kemira increases its focus on efficiency with the LEAN Manufacturing implementation launched in 2012. The core idea of the LEAN methodology is to create customer value without waste. A lean organization is able to identify the true value for the customer and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it.

Implementation of Kemira’s LEAN culture was initiated with a pilot project on three EMEA sites: Botlek, Rheinberg and Helsingborg and is currently being rolled out to all EMEA sites. LEAN is utilizing the so-called blueprint operational models which were developed on these pilot sites. The LEAN manufacturing model is based on the creation of end value for customers, which entails optimizing value chains and flow of information, improving production efficiency and increasing production responsibility. In addition, LEAN provides a standardized toolset for identifying different kinds of waste. It applies to every business and every process.

“We have a lot of sites and SKU’s, a rather complex organization. With LEAN we can reduce complexity and costs and at the same time increase our competitiveness. Cost savings of 6 million have already been implemented. Lean thinking is a management philosophy that will be a constant part of Kemira in future. Lean thinking supports Kemira strategy of becoming a leading water quality and quantity management company. This  is an important step towards more efficient processes, high-performance driven culture and our goals.” explains Michael Löffelmann, SVP Restructuring at Kemira.

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Also Kemira’s Management Board attended a one-day LEAN management training and simulation in September
to better understand the core elements of LEAN in practice.

Read more about LEAN at Kemira:
Michael Löffelmann elaborates on LEAN during Capital Markets Day 2013 in London.
>> Watch the webcast recording 
>> Presentation material (.pdf)

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