Case study

Maintaining the position as Market Leader

Achieving Best in Class Operational Performance

Business Challenge

Our client specializes in the processing of various types of residual waste. The company strives to make a meaningful contribution towards a sustainable environment and a circular economy by facilitating the continuous reuse of raw materials. Key levers are maximizing energy efficiency, enhancing the sustainability proposition and a continuous focus on operational excellence to remain Best in Class.

An increasing regulatory environment – leading to lower future waste volumes and pricing pressures and rising cost levels – put profitability under pressure, and the organization was finding it difficult to rapidly translate improvement actions into sustainable results.

Process

The improvement program that was started by the client was not delivering results as expected. Acceleration was needed, with focused attention on areas that would deliver results that supported the strategy.

Asset Life Cycle Management

Asset Utilization (oven and line) was improved by increasing uptime through adoption of a more structured way of working. Improved operations in Maintenance (and subsequent reduction of unplanned downtime) were realized by a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance with focus on reliability projects. Predictability of availability of assets meant a marked increase in capacity and revenue generation ability of the sites.

Program and Performance Management

The KPI’s used by the client were revisited and changed where needed. The new KPI’s were clearly communicated and became an integral part of the Performance Management System that steered the business. Consequent reviews and immediate action on anomalies ensured that all involved were working towards the same combined result.

The ensuing cultural change (ownership, decision making at the right levels, empowered employees) made success repeatable and meant that new standards for Operational Performance were achieved and could be sustained.

Results

> €6M

Total annualized financial benefit

45%

Cleaning time pre-sorting of waste

> 20%

Productivity

30%

Plan attainment in maintenance from 60% to 90%

increased

Best Practices for maximized Operational Performance available and used

increased

Structured Project and Program Management System implemented to support business decisions in time with the right input

Energy to Waste