HeidelbergCement has started a “continuous Improvement” program called Aggregates-CI in order to continuously optimize the operational and commercial working processes at its aggregates operations. The new program follows the margin-improvement program CLIMB Commercial that successfully concluded at the end of 2015.
Aggregates-CI will be implemented at all of its more than 500 production sites worldwide. The process enhancements shall lead to sustainable result improvements of €120 million by the end of 2018.
“The Aggregates-CI program is the next logical step in the very successful development of the last years in the area of aggregates,“ said Dr. Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement. “We will leverage the structures and processes developed in the predecessor program CLIMB Commercial in order to further drive operational and commercial professionalism and efficiency, such as in sales and distribution. The continuous improvement of our working processes with the goal of further optimizing our margins is an integral part of HeidelbergCement’s DNA.”
The predecessor program CLIMB Commercial, which was started at the end of 2012, focused on margin improvement through optimization of the product and customer mix in aggregates. The original target of €120 million result improvement by the end of 2015 was substantially exceeded. HeidelbergCement already runs a Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) in the cement business that started in 2014.
“The CI program is in place at our aggregates facilities in North America and is a continuation of our focus on improving operational processes, quality control and margins that started in 2012,” said Jeff Sieg, director, corporate communications. “Our approach is driven by the operations working hand-in-hand with their quality control and sales teams to identify and share best practices across the company so that the plants can operate at peak efficiency while also improving product balance and customer satisfaction.”