Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

HALCOR SA

The 5S System

The 5S system targets:

• Improvements in occupational Health and Safety issues
• Zero accidents
• Improved working conditions
• Increased people morale
• Tidiness and a clean environment
• Improved productivity
• Recycling and respect to the environment
• Energy savings
• Getting everyone involved and further improvements in the culture.

All employees and associates (contractors’ employees who work in the company’s premises).

Throughout the whole year.

The 5S system has been used by HALCOR since 2009 and is an important tool in its efforts to ensure continuous improvements with occupational Health and Safety issues and the efficient management of resources and equipment. The philosophy of this system is based on five implementation stages (Sorting, Setting in order, Shine, Standardising, and Sustaining). In implementing the 5S System HALCOR has set targets aimed at ensuring continuous improvement in the Occupational Health and Safety sector. Targets have been set and are monitored. It has been proved internationally that 5S system can effectively contribute to the continuous improvement of the workplace. In fact, in 2013 the company was inspected by an independent organization and it was certified for the proper use of 5s system.

No cooperation with other associations.

All the company employees.

Inofita Viotias

Every year a team of experts run inspections throughout the company’s plants. Within 3-4 days all units are inspected, all findings are registered and a report is put together including all findings need to be resolved and suggestions for further improvement on the working conditions. In addition, 10 working groups have been formed including the participation of a significant number of employees. Bulletins with pictures (before and after) and relevant information concerning the progress of the system’s use have been posted to all productive and exterior areas of the plant.

The benefits to the company using the 5s system are various since the system contributes to:

Increases in productivity:

- Reduces lead times thereby improving product delivery times.
- Reduces equipment downtime, maintenance and cycle tim.
- Improves daily and shift startup times and reduces changeover time.
- Reduces the amount of time wasted searching for tools and equipment.

Increases in quality:

- Improves quality by reducing the amount of errors/defects.
- The pleasantries of the simplified work environment increases employee moral.

Reduction in cost:

- Improves safety thereby reducing the cost of worker injuries.
- Reduces the amount of scrap thereby reducing production cost.

The system as a whole minimizes waste and improves efficiency by ensuring that workers are spending time doing productive task rather than looking for misplaced tools, sorting unnecessary through stacks of waste material or rearranging the work environment at the change of shifts.