Industry Today - Are you into it?
New Users - Register click here
Doncasters Group Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of precision-engineered components for the aerospace, power generation, industrial, construction and transportation markets, is celebrating after three new members of staff achieved Lean Sigma Black Belt status.
The achievement is part of a wider investment in continuous improvement taking place across all Doncasters sites, with a target for 1% of Doncasters 5,000 employees to be Black Belt qualified by the end of 2011.
Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
10 March 2011
Doncasters meets the improvement challenge
Staffordshire, UK: Doncasters Group Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of precision-engineered components for the aerospace, power generation, industrial, construction and transportation markets, is celebrating after three new members of staff achieved Lean Sigma Black Belt status.
Matthew O'Neill (Doncasters Precision Castings - Deritend, UK), Joe Bija (Nelson Stud Welding, USA) and John Webb (Doncasters Southern Tool, USA) received their certification following an intensive two-year training programme that saw them undertake a variety of projects that are now delivering performance and service improvements across the Group.
The achievement is part of a wider investment in continuous improvement taking place across all Doncasters sites, with a target for 1% of Doncasters 5,000 employees to be Black Belt qualified by the end of 2011.
Chris Collins, Group Director of Operations at Doncasters, said: "I'm delighted that Matthew, Joe and John have achieved their Black Belt status and would like to thank them for their hard work implementing process and value improvements across our sites.
"Operations is a fast-moving, global sector with a wide range of performance requirements and financial pressures affecting the entire supply chain.
"At Doncasters, we're committed to working closely with our customers to identify ways we can improve our service and add real value, enhancing both our own and our customers' commercial performance."
Doncasters took the strategic decision to invest additional resources in skills development following the start of the economic downturn in 2008. A group-wide continuous improvement programme is now in place with nearly 100 employees currently involved in Lean Sigma green belt and black belt training programmes.
Chris continued: "The breadth and depth of expertise that exists across our sites means there is always more we can be doing to maximise synergies and improve our offer to customers.
"However, while developing the skills of individuals and identifying continuous improvement projects is an important first step, it's crucial that responsibility for implementing positive change is felt throughout the workforce.
"With this in mind, all our continuous improvement experts are working closely with management and shop-floor staff to disseminate their expertise and ensure we're creating a genuine culture of improvement across every area of our operations."
Among successful projects implemented across the Group, Matthew, Joe and John have already been responsible for projects that reduced component lead times and scrap volumes, as well as improving on time in full deliveries and component production processes.
ENDS
The Doncasters Group is a leading international manufacturer of performance and tolerance critical engineering components for a variety of end market applications. Doncasters excels in working with alloys and metals that are difficult to shape and form and that are required to operate in demanding ambient conditions.
The company's unparalleled range of products and processes has been developed to offer customers a broad, vertically integrated capability. Core manufacturing processes include precision casting, forging, fabrication, machining and production of superalloys.
Key products include turbine airfoils, rings & casings, structural castings, compressor airfoils, combustion components and fabrications & exhausts for application in gas turbine engines, aerostructures and components for airframe applications, compressor and turbine wheels for the speciality turbocharger market, and ranges of fastenings for construction, industrial, truck, recreational and military markets. The company offers well-developed supply chain integration solutions, delivering complex assemblies and engine-ready components to its customers.
Doncasters employs around 5,000 people across U.S.A., Europe, China and Mexico. The Group has institutionalised Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles throughout its operations.
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Green
Encore Communications
Contact Information
Elizabeth Green
Encore Communications
2 Meadowsweet Place
Kidderminster
DY10 2HW
BACK TO TOP