Workplace Innovation facilitates an in-company Mini-FabLab session at DS Smith

DS Smith is a European leading packaging company of customer-specific packaging, based in Lockerbie, Scotland. Operations Manager David Murdoch asked Peter and Rosemary from Workplace Innovation Europe, as part of the Scottish Enterprise Workplace Innovation Engagement Programme, to help involve his staff in innovative ways to improve the business.

A facilitated Mini-FabLab session, with front line staff representing each area across the workforce, was a new experience for DS Smith. The group rose to the challenge and modelled and then re-modelled the factory, deep in discussion and sharing experiences and creating solutions… using boxes and paper! They addressed production issues, suggested improvements for team work, and identified where quality improvements could be made. Some were quick wins and some quite radical changes.

They presented the redesigned model to David who was very positive and receptive to their ideas, and will support the group to continue to meet every month to develop improvements. David also welcomed their idea of the teams of operators pausing production to identify and resolve a problem together at the time it is flagged, rather than at the end of the line, which he agreed will reduce waste and improve quality control.

So, plenty of creative improvements to take forward and they had fun and enjoyed the experience!

“We realised we needed to give people time and space away from their machines to offer their true potential, which could make us a more effective and profitable business. The solutions are far superior to any that I could have come up with on my own because we are harnessing the experience from the business. So the time taken for the session was well and truly paid back to the company, not only in the bottom line, but in terms of team commitment.” (David Murdoch Operations Manager, DS Smith)

Would something similar benefit your organisation?