Lean in Europe visits exist to discuss good practice and facilitate the ideas of sharing and networking.
was the featured company and the visit was to the former Demag Cranes facility in Uslar. In 2020, the factory produced 20,000 motors (drives and spares), 24,000 chain hoist motors and 300,000 components (brakes, sprockets and couplings). It makes daily deliveries to Konecrane's Wetter factory, has zero motors on stock and ships directly to customers who call the 24-hour motor hotline. 160 people work on site. Its processes include mechanical production, die-casting, shaft production and a winding shop.
The 15 participants on the visit worked for large and small companies and covered a wide range of sectors including medical, industrial goods, aerospace, building, drainage, photonics, hospitality, automotive and space sectors.
On the first day, participants and representatives of Konecranes came together for a pre-visit group exercise and networking dinner. Prof. Richard Keegan (Adjunct Professor of Lean Operational Excellence, Trinity Business School and the EU-Japan Centre's Lean Advisor) led the group exercise aimed at helping the participants prepare for the visit through a process mapping and improvement exercise around an imaginary production line for facemasks.
The site visit took place on the second day. After introductory presentations and explanations on Konecranes, on the Uslar facility and on the Konecranes Way, the group toured the factory and then took part in two improvement activities around an assembly and packaging line and around assembling and testing a part.
The agenda for the visit can be found here.
Details of forthcoming visits can be found on the main Lean in Europe webpage and details of other past visits can be found in the Lean in Europe visit archive.
