Whareroa Four A First For Fonterra

06 June 2006

Whareroa Four A First For Fonterra

Four Fonterra Whareroa employees are New Zealand's first recipients of the Level 4 Certificate in Competitive Manufacturing.

The four (Dean Harrop, Kerry Fowler, Grant Preston and Michael Douglas) are part of a 35-strong group of Manufacturing Excellence coaches working in Fonterra's sites across the country. Manufacturing Excellence, a partnership between employees, management and unions, is focused on achieving a process of continuous improvement, based on a set of best-practice toolkits.

The NZQA-recognised certificate has been developed as part of the Competitive Manufacturing Initiative, which aims to develop qualifications and skills training based on the Manufacturing Excellence programme.

Fonterra General Manager New Zealand Manufacturing Brent Taylor said Fonterra was strongly committed to Manufacturing Excellence as a way of ensuring the company maintained its international competitiveness and provided a better working environment for its staff.

"The key is to create a skilled, motivated and involved workforce."

Mr Taylor said the certificate formally recognised both the hard work of the four recipients and the quality of training Fonterra provided its manufacturing staff as part of the company's Learning & Development programme.

"Dean, Kerry, Grant and Michael have been committed to this programme for two years. This certificate recognises that they have proven their ability to coach and train others in Manufacturing Excellence principles."

Whareroa Hub Manager for Fonterra Mike Corbett says good coaching is crucial to the Manufacturing Excellence programme.

"The successful implementation of manufacturing excellence principles ultimately comes down to the technical expertise of our coaches and their ability to act as mentors to their colleagues. It takes a special kind of person to take on this role. These four guys have proven they have what it takes."

ENDS

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