AGCO bags Factory of the Year award

Ag-machinery corporation AGCO has added another award to its collection, with France's Factory of the Year award 2016 recently going to its tractor manufacturing facility in Beauvais, north of Paris.

The site is the centre for the design and manufacture of 75 to 400hp tractors for AGCO's Massey Ferguson brand.

Organised by leading French industrial magazine L'Usine Nouvelle, the award recognises production facilities that have demonstrated an in-depth transformation initiative and delivered significant performance gains including increases in productivity, quality, competitiveness and market share.

A key partner of the awards and a member of the judging panel is leading global management and business strategy specialist Boston Consulting Group.

According to AGCO, the Beauvais facility is France's largest producer and exporter of farm machinery. Some 14,500 tractors leave the assembly lines each year with 85 per cent shipped to markets all over the world.

The award marks the facility's second win of 2016; it also took home France's Best Foreign Exporter award earlier this year.

The Factory of the Year 2016 award recognises the success of the AGCO Beauvais facility's reorganisation project.

Through the implementation of lean manufacturing processes, 5S good housekeeping techniques and the Hoshin Kanri Continuous Improvement Strategy, the plant has undergone significant productivity gains, AGCO says.

The jury also highlighted the site's Quality Transformation Initiative and the clear commitment of Beauvais employees to the transformation process.

"It is a privilege and honour to win this coveted award," says Richard Markwell, Massey Ferguson Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, Africa and Middle East.

"It is a tribute to our 2500-strong workforce at Beauvais which has been the architect of the factory's major transformation over the last five years. This latest accolade is yet another milestone in our relentless pursuit of continuous improvement to ensure our customers get the very best products for their farm businesses.

"High-quality manufacturing is at the heart of the renowned reliability and dependability of Massey Ferguson equipment. This, coupled with our leading design and engineering, is ensuring that our famous 'Triple Triangle' brand continues to move ahead.

"Massey Ferguson's market share increased again across the Europe, Africa and Middle East regions last year – the sixth consecutive year we have increased this figure."

AGCO Beauvais Vice President Manufacturing Boussad Bouaouli says the company is thrilled to receive the award and that it has the staff to thank for the recognition.

"This award is truly the result of their commitment and hard work," he says.

"The Beauvais Quality Transformation Initiative is part of AGCO's global objective to be number one in perceived quality and was considered an outstanding achievement by the Factory of the Year Award jury members.

"It illustrates every single employee's dedication to deliver ‘best in class quality' for each individual tractor on the production line."