Dr. Benito Sala

Most important Automotive Paint plant in EMEA and one of the 4 strategic facilities at global level. Serves all the automotive customer in EMEA. Responsible for 300 people, 30 MM€ budget, all the company assets. Recovery of plant performance from critical to best in class: lowest total cost per kg globally; benchmark in EHS compliance, 5S and housekeeping, Lean Manufacturing (officially recognized by Toyota for which we are the only supplier plant in EMEA within PPG).

Biggest and most diverse resin production plant in EU, produces resin for the automotive industry, both as intermediates for paint plant and for the final costumer (anti corrosion treatment). Strong budget reduction and cost containment despite serious volume drop; reduced people cost (30% people less) through internal organizations merging and optimization, anticipate retirement, outsourcing. Implemented a matrix organization improving flexibility.

Production and internal logistic: 6 dept manager, 15 Team leaders, 200 operators. I led the organization through one of the major changes of the last 40 years in the refinish business, converting most of the market volumes from Solvent Based to Water Based paints. WB volumes growth from 600 lt/day to more than 20000 lt/day in 3 years. For more than one year the plant was the sole supplier of this technology at global level, supporting Europe and North America.

Managed a significant turnaround of a small plant (50 people) that was in critical conditions. Defined a strategy to move the organization from low value volume based production to high value core products: I led in complete autonomy competitive benchmarking on core products, obtaining a 10% reduction per sku cost and gaining half of the European volumes. Relevant cultural change introducing safety first and total quality approach and managed six sigma green belt project.

Major role in the production organization, with responsibility of production volumes, maintenance and quality of the product. I managed 25 technical experts at all levels, with high responsibility: they execute planned and extraordinary maintenance, quality control on line, etc. I led the professional growth of the staff through an appraisal process, I managed the introduction of continuous shift pattern, installation, start up and optimization of a new production line.

Product development and technical assistance for electric appliance components