Operational excellence for all 12 production sites

The Huf Production System (HPS) is a structured, tailor-made framework inspired by the Toyota Production System (TPS). It is based on powerful principles and provides an effective set of rules, tools, KPIs and values to optimize our production processes across all locations.

The Huf Production System is based on eight important modules:

1. Lean Leadership – impacting all relevant business KPIs (Quality, Cost, Inventory, Delivery, Flexibility, Safety, Morale and Environment.
2. Zero Defect Strategy – improved customer satisfaction, reduced cost for scrap/rework, reduced need for firefighting and therefor increased focus on continuous improvement.
3. Value Stream – improved value stream flow following the customer takt reduces inventory and process lead times, it leads towards simplified production pull control, smooth, stable and scalable operations.
4. Material Management – achieve synchronized material flow, reduces logistic and inventory cost through improved production planning and right size packaging, pull principal leads to efficient material handling.
5. Assembly Line management – improved assembly line productivities, increased flexibility, stabilized production.
6. Equipment Management – improved efficiency and reduced change over times to reduce lot sizes, reduced inventory and increased flexibility. Reduced capex!
7. Shop Floor Management – transparency enables the daily management, problem solving and improvement of all relevant shop floor KPIs. Standards allow for the detection of deviations and the elimination of their root causes.
8. Supplier Integration – reduced logistics, production and quality cost through increased stability of deliveries to Huf customers, reduced inventories, less excess freight and supply escalations.

Lean thinking across the entire product life cycle

Following the logic of continuous improvement, these pillars are evolving to another more advanced strategic logic that combines all these principles but with the focus of integration of other systems like in a near future Huf Product Development System. The core principles of this system integration are adding value, holistic, and flexible. These principles are combined in a triangle visualization form with these 3 topics: Lead, Develop and Execute. 

It all starts with a thorough analysis of existing production processes to identify areas for improvement. This involves collecting data on various metrics such as cycle times, defect rates, and resource utilization. Based on this analysis, HPS implements targeted interventions, such as optimizing workflows, introducing low-cost intelligent automation (LCIA), and enhancing employee training programs. 

Continuous monitoring and feedback loops ensure that these improvements are sustained and further refined over time. The collaborative efforts of different departments play a crucial role in the successful implementation of HPS. This approach transforms the shop floor into a space of learning, ownership, and pride. 

Lean thinking across the entire product life cycle

HPS is more than a system: it is in Huf Operations DNA, as a daily mindset that delivers real, hands-on benefits. Thanks to Huf Production System, our customers benefit from: 

• top products fulfilling high quality standards
• shorter lead times and reliable deliveries
• global and proven standards - from Europe to Asia to the Americas
• And at the same time: flexibility in adapting to changing needs and requirements

But the journey doesn't stop there: Huf is now moving to the next level - extending the principles of lean thinking and cross-functional collaboration to the entire product lifecycle with the launch of the Huf Product Development System (HPDS). From the first idea of a product to the final delivery to the customer - Huf is creating a fully integrated, lean, and scalable system that puts quality, speed, people and products at the core to provide added value to its customer.