End summer with a trip to Fujifilm SIS in sunny Broadstairs

Take the tour of the plant on 21 September and learn how to instil world beating quality standards into your production process.

Fujifilm – a two-time winner of Britain's Best Process Plant at the BFAs and a multiple Manufacturing Champion winner – has taken right first time levels to near 100% and transformed its business from producing their heritage analogue products to pioneering precision UV curing digital inks.

The plant may be approx. 8000m₂ but it has 2,300 SKU’s and manufactures 11,000 batches a year. Broadstairs is a model of decentralised control within a small batch, flexible manufacturing process.

Exacting digital ink batches must be produced to ink pigment particle sizes between 100 and 300 nanometres- smaller than the average human cell. The quest for near perfection has involved huge investment in plant and people. The management team has focussed on engaging and multi-skilling the workforce to master new digital ink production with the introduction of NVQs in Business Improvement Techniques to help employees eliminate waste. Three cross functional CI teams have been set up to target kaizen and the site has saved more than 3,000 man-hours and counting.

Chris Beck, deputy editor of WM, said: “This is a great opportunity to tour an award-winning manufacturing site. Time is running out so I urge anyone interested to book a place as soon as possible.”

Fujifilm also invested £3m in a new digital ink production facility and had to bring it online without disruption to customers or compromising right first time quality levels. At the same time the site achieved ‘zero to landfill’ status and gained accreditation to the OHSAS 18001 safety standard.

In addition, Jim Davison, regional director of the South East at EEF, will also be on hand to provide a presentation on continous improvement and quality management.

To find out more and to book your place, visit www.wmfactorytours.co.uk.