Lean Enterprise, Six Sigma & Continuous Improvement
CIRCOR achieves operational excellence through aligning people, processes and technology, and drives superior results through the pursuit of repeatable, reliable and lean processes that focus on continuous improvement.
Utilizing the CIRCOR Business System, we are:
- Building a results-driven leadership and continuous improvement culture
- Eliminating waste across Circor (cost, quality, time, resource, space)
- Utilizing LEAN and Six Sigma for speed, flexibility & efficiency
- Delivering better performance to customers, enabling Circor to take market share
- Improving cash flow through inventory reduction or increased inventory turns
Circor began building a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence in 2005 through a large-scale program to implement Lean operations and Six Sigma. We initially focused on major North American sites and eventually expanded our Lean program across the entire Circor enterprise.
In the first few years, our goal was two-fold: first, develop a talented leadership engine to take Circor to higher levels of operational performance, and second, teach employees how to continually improve their work processes.
In 2008, we embarked on the next level of Lean by developing “model lines” (watch video) at a few of our larger sites to become the Company’s benchmarks. The goal is to redesign the entire product stream, from suppliers to customers, for breakthrough performance and efficiency. Moreover, Circor is applying these techniques to non-manufacturing processes as well, improving administrative and supply chain processes to significantly enhance our competitive advantage and take market share.
Although Circor is in the early stages of its Lean journey, we have already shortened lead times and improved delivery performance to customers; enhanced the quality of our products; freed up factory space enabling facility consolidations and cost savings; and improved the work environment for our employees.
