netrashetty
Netra Shetty
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, NYSE: ATK, is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated US$4.8 billion.[3] The company headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Corus is part of the Tata Steel Group, the world's sixth largest steel producer. Within Europe, Corus is the second largest steel producer with average annual revenuesof around £12 billion. The company produces more than 20 million tonnes of steel each year, mainly in the UK and the Netherlands. It has a global network of sales offices and service centres, employing around 42,000 people worldwide. Corus is a leading supplier of steel to some of the most demanding markets around the world.
Corus Long Products Business (CLPB), a business unit of Corus, has steel manufacturing facilities in England, Scotland and France. These produce different steel products from steel plate to steel rails and wire rod. The key markets for CLPB products include construction (for buildings), engineering and machinery, mining and earthmoving equipment, shipbuilding, fastenings and rail. The principal manufacturing site in Scunthorpe covers 2,000 acres and employs 4,000 people. The site consumes 6.5 million tonnes of iron ore and 2 million tonnes of coal each year to produce 4.3 million tonnes of steel products.
This case study focuses on how Corus used its knowledge and experience of continuous improvement (CI) to win new business. Continuous improvement is a tool that gives competitive advantage. This means the business can move ahead of competitors and increase its market share. Using skills and expertise in a structured way enables an organisation to create better processes and products. Corus used CI to support its new product development (NPD), enabling it to meet the needs of its customers more closely. Developing innovative products through continuous improvement is at the heart of Corus' business strategy.
Continuous improvement enabled Corus to overcome problems in its steel works. Several years ago Corus bid for a Royal Navy contract for steel for T45 destroyer vessels. Up until that date, this was the largest Royal Navy contract awarded. Corus did not get the work because the business at that time was not seen to have the capability of meeting the high specification of steel plate required. Losing the contract showed Corus it needed to invest to improve its machinery and processes. It invested around £8 million at the Scunthorpe plate mill in order to be ready to meet the requirements of any similar contracts in the future.
The investment, together with its established Continuous Improvement practices, has enabled Corus to win a recent contract to supply steel for two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers. The £3.8 billion carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively. Corus will supply more than 80,000 tonnes of structural steel for the carriers. They will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever built for the Royal Navy.
Since the 1950s many manufacturing techniques based on quality have been developed. 'Kaizen' is one of these and is Japanese for 'continuous improvement'. This focuses on making small continuous improvements across all functions, systems and processes within a business. For example, waste is a cost to Corus. Continuous improvement contributes towards lean production. Lean production occurs where:
waste has been minimised.
the flow of work is smooth.
the business is focused on customer needs.
Lean production uses fewer resources more efficiently. This increases productivity and can improve profitability. Continuous improvement at Corus helps to eliminate waste in seven key areas. It uses the mnemonic 'TIM WOOD' to help employees remember the areas.
One aspect of lean production that helps to save costs of stock is the just-in-time (JIT) principle. Just-in-time means producing and supplying goods at the time they are needed. The business holds the minimum amount of raw materials and just enough finished product to meet demand. It requires well-organised systems to ensure supplies arrive and goods reach customers on time. This reduces costs and so helps to improve the return on investment for shareholders.
JIT also carries risks if the business has no stock it could be less able to cope if suppliers fail to deliver. Corus needs to balance these risks against the proven benefits.
Continuous improvement influences the whole of the business. To be effective, all employees need to own and adopt CI principles, starting with senior management commitment. Under their leadership, CI works through the whole organisation. Strong communication is important in building this commitment. Corus carries out regular presentations to staff on how CI is improving the business. It also uses written forms of communication with articles in team briefings and newsletters.
Everyone has a part to play in continuous improvement. Through various CI groups, all Corus employees can contribute ideas for improving their working practices. The person doing a job often knows best how to make improvements. This empowermentof employees and managers helps them to feel valued and gives them job satisfaction. Corus benefits from becoming a more profitable business by reducing costs, securing high value orders and maximising the time its rolling mill operations are in use. Corus Research & Development benefits from the business” commitment to improvement by developing expertise and knowledge. This will support future business.
Continuous improvement not only makes Corus more efficient but also provides many benefits to its external stakeholders.
Corus is part of the Tata Steel Group, the world's sixth largest steel producer. Within Europe, Corus is the second largest steel producer with average annual revenuesof around £12 billion. The company produces more than 20 million tonnes of steel each year, mainly in the UK and the Netherlands. It has a global network of sales offices and service centres, employing around 42,000 people worldwide. Corus is a leading supplier of steel to some of the most demanding markets around the world.
Corus Long Products Business (CLPB), a business unit of Corus, has steel manufacturing facilities in England, Scotland and France. These produce different steel products from steel plate to steel rails and wire rod. The key markets for CLPB products include construction (for buildings), engineering and machinery, mining and earthmoving equipment, shipbuilding, fastenings and rail. The principal manufacturing site in Scunthorpe covers 2,000 acres and employs 4,000 people. The site consumes 6.5 million tonnes of iron ore and 2 million tonnes of coal each year to produce 4.3 million tonnes of steel products.
This case study focuses on how Corus used its knowledge and experience of continuous improvement (CI) to win new business. Continuous improvement is a tool that gives competitive advantage. This means the business can move ahead of competitors and increase its market share. Using skills and expertise in a structured way enables an organisation to create better processes and products. Corus used CI to support its new product development (NPD), enabling it to meet the needs of its customers more closely. Developing innovative products through continuous improvement is at the heart of Corus' business strategy.
Continuous improvement enabled Corus to overcome problems in its steel works. Several years ago Corus bid for a Royal Navy contract for steel for T45 destroyer vessels. Up until that date, this was the largest Royal Navy contract awarded. Corus did not get the work because the business at that time was not seen to have the capability of meeting the high specification of steel plate required. Losing the contract showed Corus it needed to invest to improve its machinery and processes. It invested around £8 million at the Scunthorpe plate mill in order to be ready to meet the requirements of any similar contracts in the future.
The investment, together with its established Continuous Improvement practices, has enabled Corus to win a recent contract to supply steel for two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers. The £3.8 billion carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively. Corus will supply more than 80,000 tonnes of structural steel for the carriers. They will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever built for the Royal Navy.
Since the 1950s many manufacturing techniques based on quality have been developed. 'Kaizen' is one of these and is Japanese for 'continuous improvement'. This focuses on making small continuous improvements across all functions, systems and processes within a business. For example, waste is a cost to Corus. Continuous improvement contributes towards lean production. Lean production occurs where:
waste has been minimised.
the flow of work is smooth.
the business is focused on customer needs.
Lean production uses fewer resources more efficiently. This increases productivity and can improve profitability. Continuous improvement at Corus helps to eliminate waste in seven key areas. It uses the mnemonic 'TIM WOOD' to help employees remember the areas.
One aspect of lean production that helps to save costs of stock is the just-in-time (JIT) principle. Just-in-time means producing and supplying goods at the time they are needed. The business holds the minimum amount of raw materials and just enough finished product to meet demand. It requires well-organised systems to ensure supplies arrive and goods reach customers on time. This reduces costs and so helps to improve the return on investment for shareholders.
JIT also carries risks if the business has no stock it could be less able to cope if suppliers fail to deliver. Corus needs to balance these risks against the proven benefits.
Continuous improvement influences the whole of the business. To be effective, all employees need to own and adopt CI principles, starting with senior management commitment. Under their leadership, CI works through the whole organisation. Strong communication is important in building this commitment. Corus carries out regular presentations to staff on how CI is improving the business. It also uses written forms of communication with articles in team briefings and newsletters.
Everyone has a part to play in continuous improvement. Through various CI groups, all Corus employees can contribute ideas for improving their working practices. The person doing a job often knows best how to make improvements. This empowermentof employees and managers helps them to feel valued and gives them job satisfaction. Corus benefits from becoming a more profitable business by reducing costs, securing high value orders and maximising the time its rolling mill operations are in use. Corus Research & Development benefits from the business” commitment to improvement by developing expertise and knowledge. This will support future business.
Continuous improvement not only makes Corus more efficient but also provides many benefits to its external stakeholders.
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