Responding to the Crisis

Corus IJmuiden

World-Class IJmuiden

The ‘World-Class IJmuiden’ project started in 2001 with the aim of returning the IJmuiden site to the ranks of Europe’s top steel makers. A three-year programme was developed to improve the site’s overall performance by €50 per tonne. Targets were set for market share and product and process development in such a way as not to compromise the company’s commitment to its employees and surrounding communities. The site’s safety record was to improve 30% year on year; there was a renewed commitment to value creation for customers and to on-time delivery; 50% of the product range was to be new, and return on net operating assets was to be 15% through the cycle. By the end of 2004 the programme was successfully completed.

Best Supplier to Best Customers

By 2005 Corus Strip Products IJmuiden was ready for the next step: an improvement programme based on Lean Thinking. This would help it to remain ahead of its increasingly competitive international rivals, not only in Europe but around the world.