Case study: organizational aspects of the lean implementation at SOGEFI Filtration plant of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

Abstract

Lean management strategy is widely adopted by automobile industry companies –between many others- to achieve high performance standards. An in deep implementation of lean management involves organizational aspects. Some authors suggested as leading concepts of the organizational changes (1) focus the organization on the customer, and (2) to do that, focus the organization on the Value Stream. The present paper is part of a project aimed to diffuse successful applications of these ideas. The describe case corresponds to the lean transformation of the filter manufacturing plant of Sogefi Filtration at Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona. Data was collected through an interview of the plant manager and a visit to the plant in December, 2010 and July 2011. The organizational solution adopted consists in (1) a pure functional hierarchical organization for the day to day functioning; (2) the setting up of continuous improvement groups in charge of Value Stream segments and with an important level of functions and support; and (3) a strong production control by using Value Stream based on indicators. This solution resulted to be highly successful in the described case.