Industries

Operational Excellence for Wood, Paper and Furniture

Better use of raw material, steady flow and on-time delivery. For wood, paper, packaging and furniture manufacturers in Greece, Cyprus and Europe.

  • Raw material yield
  • Make-to-order flow
  • Fewer defects
Request a diagnosticSee the training
Woodworker using a table saw in a workshop

Why operational excellence matters

Raw material is a large share of cost, while orders are increasingly customised. Cutting losses, waiting between stations and finishing defects limit margin and speed.

Greece Lean Six Sigma helps companies measure material yield, organise make-to-order flow and stabilise quality.

Where we help

Raw material yield

Cutting plans, offcuts, moisture and losses.

Production flow

Waiting, batch size, bottlenecks and lead time.

Finishing and quality

Coating defects, rework and inline checks.

Changeovers and setups

SMED on saws, CNC, paper and packaging machines.

Warehouse and shipping

Inventory, order picking, loading and transport damage.

Safety and 5S

Workplace organisation, dust, tools and standard work.

Common operational challenges

  • High cutting losses
  • Finishing defects
  • Long changeovers
  • Late orders
  • Inventory along the line
  • Transport damage
  • Machine stoppages
  • Order errors
  • Safety incidents
  • Disorganised workplace

Our approach starts from the process, not from an off-the-shelf training course. We find where performance is lost, quantify the opportunity and choose the method that fits the problem.

From diagnosis to improvement

  1. Understand the processWe review flow, roles, data and controls.
  2. Set the baselineWe quantify performance with the right indicators.
  3. Find the dominant lossesWe focus on the problems with the biggest impact.
  4. Choose the right methodQuick win, Kaizen, root cause analysis, DMAIC or redesign.
  5. Sustain the resultWe build ownership, control, capability and daily management.

Typical performance indicators

  • Material yield
  • Scrap %
  • Lead time
  • OTIF
  • OEE
  • Changeover time
  • Rework
  • Transport damage
  • Inventory days
  • Safety incidents

Choose your starting point

Operational Excellence Diagnostic

Assessment of one process or value stream, with a prioritised map of improvement opportunities.

In-company training

A programme tailored to your sector, in a classroom or Live Online, with examples from your own operation.

Targeted improvement project

Lean Six Sigma applied to one specific problem, with a measurable result.

Related training

5S ChampionWorkplace organisation, 24 hours.Kaizen Workshop FacilitationRapid improvement with the team, 8 hours.Lean ProcurementPurchasing and supplier development, 16 hours.Lean Six Sigma Yellow BeltThe first step in improvement, 32 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How is raw material yield improved?

With a material balance per stage, analysis of cutting plans and standard work, so it is clear where material is lost and why.

Does it work for make-to-order furniture?

Yes. Make-to-order flow, visual management and quick changeovers shorten the time from order to delivery.

Do you always start with training?

No. We start from the process. First we find where time, quality or cost is lost and what it costs. Then we choose a quick win, Kaizen, a DMAIC project or team training.

Can the training run in-house?

Yes. Programmes run in-company, in a classroom or Live Online, with examples from your own operation.

Where do you work?

We work with organisations in Greece, Cyprus and Europe, in Greek or English.