‘Game-changing’ system saves £1.8m and makes DuPont international ‘centre of excellence’

Claude Metzdorf, DuPont’s Plant Manager Kevlar described the new DuPont Production System (DPS) as a ‘game-changer.’

Mr Metzdorf said: “DPS is a game changer, a true differentiator for DuPont and the fact that the Maydown site is leading the way in implementing it and training staff from all over the world is very satisfying to everyone here.”

DPS has been billed by the gunpowder manufacturer turned chemical all-rounder as an integrated system designed to deploy best practices, develop people and organisational capability and find creative new ways to utilise assets and eliminate waste in working processes.

DuPont believes it has an enormous cost saving opportunity in the European, Middle Eastern and African [EMEA] regions by improving its maintenance expenditures, production capabilities and uptime as well as variable and fixed costs.

“As a global organisation we put huge effort into streamlining our practices and training our staff to ultimately achieve better results and make savings that will be felt throughout our business,” said Metzdorf.

As part of their role in the overall deployment of DPS, Maydown hosted a training event for 25 key operating personnel from DuPont facilities in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany who will in turn introduce the programme in their own countries.

Mieke Jacobs, DPS Program Champion EMEA, said: “During a recent visit to the Maydown site I was impressed to see that DPS, as a system approach, is integrated in the whole rhythm of the plant. It is a complete implementation of all the elements of DPS and the impact is visible throughout the plant.”

Mr Metzdorf continued: “The programme encourages everyone to work together by listening to ideas and involving every employee as a true part of the team to tackle challenges together.

It also focuses on safely serving customers, understanding and outperforming the competition and fully engaging all staff in continuous improvement.”