AGAWAM, Mass. – From surveys to Six Sigma, Süddekor LLC has a keen eye on new technology, fresh logistics, and organization development tactics to become even leaner, faster, and greener than ever before.
Fran Vahle, Süddekor’s Director of Sales & Marketing, said the company’s corporate goal in 2013 is to continue streamlining operations to increase cost- and time- fficiency, while at the same time assuring that its products are as reflective of their source materials in color, design, and texture as possible.
“Our key focus is to synchronize our design, printing, and treating operations to provide our customers with the highest quality products that meet their delivery requirements,” he said.
To this end, Süddekor implemented a number of quality assurance measures in 2012 to both gauge customer needs and identify ways to introduce new products to the market more quickly.
In September and October of last year, for instance, Süddekor created and delivered an extensive customer survey designed to measure customer satisfaction. Those surveyed were asked to compare products, rate the competition, use scales to estimate their satisfaction, and to give their honest opinion about Süddekor products and services in open-ended responses.
Vahle said the company’s management team was pleased with the results the survey returned, as they offered concrete information regarding Süddekor’s customer service practices, product lines, and corporate strategies from the customer point-of-view.
A new position was also created to oversee these ongoing improvements; in November, Thomas Eckhardt was appointed Research & Development Manager for Treating. Eckhardt will work closely with North American customers to enhance product offerings, while simultaneously working with the Süddekor Technical Group at its headquarters in Laichingen, Germany.
Süddekor is using the Lean / Six Sigma methodology as its vehicle for continuous process improvements, having implemented the tactic in 2011. Vahle said several Six Sigma Projects have been incorporated throughout the production cycle, in printing, treating and administrative areas. The first process improvement experts (Green Belts) were trained in 2012, and a second class will begin during first quarter of 2013. In addition, the company revitalized its 5S Program, a workplace organization method that began in Japan and focuses on increasing productivity through sorting, setting in order, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining to further improve efficiency throughout Süddekor’s three North American facilities in Agawam and East Longmeadow, Mass., and in Biscoe, N.C.
“We will continue to coordinate design activities with our colleagues at Süddekor Germany to ensure that our customers receive the best possible images that are reflective of the latest trends,” Vahle said, “and to ensure that the entire organization benefits from the collective technological advancements.”
For more information, visit suddekorllc.com or call 413.821.9000.
About Süddekor LLCSüddekor LLC is based in Agawam, Mass., and is a subsidiary of the 2D-Group (Süddekor/Dakor), one of the world’s leading décor printers and impregnators, headquartered in Laichingen, Germany. Süddekor supplies decorative surfacing solutions to the North American laminate industry and is the only company to offer North American laminate manufacturers a complete design service, from scanning and separations to cylinder engraving, printing and treating. Süddekor has plants in Agawam and East Longmeadow, Mass., and Biscoe, N.C.
