The International QRM Community is an initiative of the QRM Institute. It serves as a platform where experts, practitioners, and individuals interested in the QRM methodology come together to exchange knowledge and experiences.

The Global meeting will span two days. We will gather on the first day at 13:30, allowing ample time for all participants to arrive at the meeting location without rushing. The first day will consist of an afternoon session, followed by a morning and early afternoon session on the second day concluding after lunch. In the late afternoon, participants will return home.

This year the international QRM Community will visit 2 manufacturers Atlas Copco (Belgium)  and Bregil (Netherlands) who have both transformed their way of operating by introducing QRM.

Visit Bregil

Bregil, based in the Netherlands, specializes in manufacturing metal products from steel tubes, sheets, and profiles. For many years, the company has embraced Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) principles to enhance its operations. One of the first implementations of QRM at Bregil was the establishment of a dedicated ‘furniture cell’. The cell, originally staffed by six employees, is equipped with a welding station, an assembly station, multiple presses, and other essential machinery. Together with the nearby cutting and bending department, this team successfully reduced the lead time for furniture products from 28 days to just 5 days.

A second initiative involved a pilot project in the cutting department, which adapted to receiving cutting instructions only one day in advance. This shift moved the focus from bundling orders for efficiency to minimizing lead times, fundamentally altering operational priorities.

These changes initially led to an unusually quiet and empty shop floor, yet resulted in significantly higher sales turnover. Both management and staff at Bregil’s facility in Gilze found the new environment initially unsettling but ultimately beneficial as they adjusted to the new, more streamlined way of working.

Visit Atlas Copco

The Atlas Copco Airtec Division is a part of the Atlas Copco Group with a total of 49.000 employees in 70 countries. The division’s Antwerp manufacturing plant is renowned for producing compressors that cater to a broad spectrum of applications—from compact units for dental practices to large-scale industrial compressors.

In a strategic move to enhance performance, the factory recently integrated Quick Response Manufacturing principles into the production process of a specific compressor family. This initiative involved relocating the machining and assembly equipment to a newly designated building, thereby creating a dedicated production cell. Moreover, significant emphasis was also placed on the social dynamics of the workforce to cultivate a cohesive and effective team. As a result of these comprehensive changes, the plant has seen a notable decrease in lead times and a significant increase in productivity.

 

Programme

Thursday, June 20th

• 13:30 – 13:45: Welcome at Atlas Copco
• 13:45 – 14:45: Presentation of the QRM Journey at Atlas Copco
• 14:45 – 16:00: Tour of the production area
• 16:00 – 17:00: Questions and experience sharing
• 17:00: End of session and transport to hotel in Antwerp
• 19:00: QRM Community Dinner in Antwerp

 

Friday, June 21th

• 08:00: Transport from hotel to Bregil
• 09:15 – 09:30: Welcome at Bregil
• 09:30 – 10:30: Presentation on QRM Journey of Bregil
• 10:30 – 11:30: Tour of the production area
• 11:30 – 12:15: Questions and experience sharing
• 12:15 – 13:00: Lunch at Bregil
• 13:00 – 15:00: Interactive workshop: “How to accelerate your QRM Journey”
• 15:00 – 16:30 Transport back to the hotel (Antwerp)

Locations

Atlas Copco

Boomsesteenweg 957

2610 Antwerpen

Belgium

 

Bregil

Lange Wagenstraat 57

5126 BB Gilze,

Netherlands

 

Dinner location in Antwerp:

Restaurant Octave

Koningin Astridplein 7

2018 Antwerpen

Belgium

 

Logistics

Recommended hotel:

Hotel NH COLLECTION ANTWERP CENTRE

Pelikaanstraat 84

2018 Antwerp

Belgium

 

We have secured a block of rooms specifically for this event. Travelers should make their reservations with the hotel, using the following link to get the special event rate:

https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/event/qrm-institute

 

The hotel is conveniently located near the Central Station in Antwerp and is a 20-minute drive from Atlas Copco.

For international travelers, we recommend flying into Brussels Airport, which is approximately a 40-minute drive from Atlas Copco. The QRM Institute will offer transportation services from Atlas Copco to the hotel in Antwerp after the Thursday visit, as well as from the hotel in Antwerp to Bregil on Friday, with a return trip to the hotel. Please request these transport services if needed.

 

Registration

Price: 125 Euro, including dinner and bus transport

Personal travel and accomodation costs are not included.

The registration for the international QRM community meeting should be made via an email to your local QRM Institute contact person.

The visits are limited to 20 participants.