James Ross Consulting - Bostik Findley

Bostik Findley, Inc.

Packaging Cost Reduction

Client produced a wide range of industrial and consumer adhesive products for sale world-wide. Current packaging formats and packing methods were seen as inefficient, in terms of materials usage, packing process and distribution.

bostik.com

Consumer and Industrial Adhesives

In the summer of 2000 Bostik Inc., Middleton, MA and Ato Findley, Inc., Wauwatosa, WI, integrated their two organizations to become Bostik Findley, Inc. Bostik Findley is one of three worldwide business groups covering the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia/Asia. This merger has created a worldwide company of 4,500 employees with production facilities and sales operations in 36 countries across six continents translating to one of the largest adhesive and sealant company’s in the world today. Bostik Findley, Inc. employs more than 1,000 within the United States alone. Bostik Findley, Inc. is comprised of three unique divisions: Construction Distribution, Industrial Adhesives, and Nonwovens.

Business Challenge

20% Savings Target

Following a survey to confirm achievable savings James Ross Consulting were commissioned to undertake a two stage cost reduction exercise (over 6 months) within the UK operation.

How JRC Helped

Implementing Changes To Consumer Packaging

Stage One involved development, trials and implementation of changes to industrial product packaging, to improve margin without affecting quality (actual or perceived). In addition, this stage was also used to develop and agree direction for more significant, stage two savings on consumer products. These savings were based on reduction in material costs through re-design of components and on improvement in processing time / output. This involved the development, trials and implementation of changes to consumer products packaging. This involved the development of new packing processes and investment in new machinery. Pack types included wallets, blister packs, cartons, tubes, plastic bottles, corrugated cases, labels and leaflets. Savings were based on re-engineering of primary and secondary pack formats, development of automated packing for wallet products, changes to secondary packaging formats and pallet loading.

Value Delivered

Savings Targets Exceeded

At the end of stage one the 20% target saving had been achieved. At the end of the second stage savings of over 23% had been achieved. In addition, the client had been able to introduce a more flexible sales unit for their wholesale customers.