On 12 June 2024 Cummins Turbo hosted their latest Onsite Insights visit for a group of senior leaders from the Food & Drink; Defense and Logistics industries. It was clear from the moment we arrived at the recently renovated facility in central Huddersfield that the company has an unwavering commitment to their customers and to business improvement.
Our hosts for the day, Dale Lodge (Operations Manager) and Tommy Goldstein (Head of Operational Excellence) were such brilliant hosts to a diverse group, sharing with us the Lean & CI journey on the site, the latest introduction of digital platforms to support communication and management of their operational excellence program.
Cummins is the only manufacturer focused solely on medium-to heavy-duty diesel engine turbo technologies. For more than 60 years, they have delivered innovative, reliable turbocharger solutions for their customers. Commercial diesel engines require advanced technologies that deliver efficiency and meet strict emissions requirements.
Today, Cummins Turbo Technologies engineers are actively developing state of the art solutions for the next generation, including assisted turbocharging, new bearing systems and enhanced compressor stage performance. The site manufactures over 300,000 turbo chargers per year and employs over 1000 people.
Some of the highlights of the visit included:
Making Learning Fun
During the visit participants took part in a lego-based learning game which is used by the site to bring lean principles to life. Through a series of iterations participants identify ways in which they can improve flow; reduce cycle times and optimize the flow of production. This is a great exercise even for those with decades of lean experience as it reminds us to consider all the fundamental principles of lean thinking, particularly as they relate to waste and flow.
Value Stream Mapping
Value Stream mapping is at the heart of many Lean and Continuous Improvement programmes and it was great to see the ownership of team leaders for their departmental value stream maps and how they are actively using these to identify improvement initiatives and pin pointing opportunities to eliminate waste.
Investment
Over the last six years, the site has been going through a major investment of over
£20 million, to renovate the iconic factory in the heart of Huddersfield. The investment can be seen not just in the upgraded manufacturing plant and its three main assembly halls but in a transformed research and development centre, renovated offices, canteen, gym and newly installed electric vehicle charging points. The plant itself has a new roof (currently being kitted out with solar panels), new external walls, new floor, new electrical and heating and ventilation systems, energy-efficient LED lighting and greater wheelchair access. The investment included over £800k in solar panels which aligns to the wider Cummins group environmental commitments and net zero strategy. The visitors were particularly impressed with the warehouse upgrade and improved lighting systems, making it a modern, bright working enivironment.
Embracing Digital
A highlight for many was getting to see how the site has embraced technology and introduced their own purpose built digital Tiered Management System. They also integrated their suggestion scheme into the same platform to make management easier. The touchscreens located in key areas around the site emulate the previous SQCDP physical meeting boards, they are easy to use and interact with, allow for live management of KPI reporting; as well as helping them track and improve the management of the suggestion scheme within the business.
Ailsa Carson, the Program Director of Onsite Insights was proud to present the organization with their Host plaque at the end of the visit and said
“We are so grateful to the team at Cummins for their involvement in the visit program, a program that supports the sharing of innovation and best practice between organizations. Visiting companies benefit so much from these visit days enabling them to improve productivity and performance in their own businesses as a result.”
The next visit to Cummins Huddersfield is on 19 November 2024, for more information or to book CLICK HERE
About Onsite Insights
Established in 2004, the Onsite Insights visit program exists to encourage the sharing of innovation and best practice between companies. This is achieved through a series of one day visits to award winning companies where visitors get to see best practice in action. No theory, no text book, just what works and why from organizations that have achieved success.
For More Information contact:
Jim Brydon
Programme Manager
Onsite Insights
Jim.Brydon@sapartners.com