Saturday, March 30, 2024

Purata gets InSynC

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Lean management at Purata can be distilled to one simple phrase, the company’s general manager of farm operations Andy Millar says. “It’s as simple as we want to get better every day.” Continuous improvement through Purata’s lean management approach, InSynC (Innovation through Synergies and Continuous Improvement), is a culture or way of working rather than just a thing, he says. “We use the tools lean management provides us with, but the most important part of it is developing the culture of lean within the team.” Purata, formerly known as Synlait Farms, embarked on the InSynC programme in 2012, adapting the management approach from manufacturing to fit its dairy farming context. It was championed by former Purata managing director Juliet Maclean and senior managers but several, including Juliet, have now left the company. Andy has been in the business since 2013 and says the turnover did create challenges but because it is a cultural “way of thinking” it continues on regardless of changes in personnel. That’s not to say it’s effortless. Sustaining improvements is an integral part of the lean approach and Andy says it takes a high level of commitment from senior management to ensure all team members see the theory in action and the culture percolates through all levels of the business. “Getting people within the business to buy-in to the approach means showing them what’s in it for them, and that’s actually quite easy because through InSynC or lean, the company, the team and the customer all benefit,” Andy says. That’s where what’s almost a mantra to Purata team members comes in. “Safer, easier, better, faster.” By continuously improving the workplace and processes they are more assured of being safer at work, their work life becomes easier, its better and more enjoyable and the work gets done faster so they get to go home earlier. At the same time costs are controlled and
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