Building a “lean” knowledge base: New level of skills training for Nestlé UK’s factory line managers bring significant rewards

Few can doubt the complexity of achieving a true “lean” manufacturing operation. While a growing number of UK plants now seem capable of achieving a significant step forward in manufacturing performance, through the introduction of major process and “culture” improvements, actually building on this initial advance – or even sustaining it – still tends to prove elusive. In fact, it is likely that most UK operations still do not have all the key elements in place to create an environment where continuous improvement becomes a fully established and ongoing process, rather than a sporadic event.