Unleashing value: Defontaine Group gives Lean Management a new boost
At Defontaine Group, Lean Management is not a passing trend but a deeply rooted culture. Today, this culture is taking a new step forward with the creation of a department entirely dedicated to Lean Management. This mindset aims to strengthen industrial performance while placing people at the heart of progress.
Lean Management: a philosophy of excellence
Inspired by the production system developed by Toyota in the 1960s and 1970s, Lean Management is based on three fundamental pillars:
- Kaizen: continuous improvement involving employees to eliminate actions that do not add value.
- Jidoka: quality control at every stage of production.
- Just-in-time: an agile response to variability in demand.
Beyond principles, Lean is above all a culture. A culture where experience in the field must fuel performance, and where excellence is built day after day.
A dedicated team to structure and accelerate
To embody this new dynamic, Defontaine Group has put together a Lean Management team composed of three experts:
- Claire Ferreira da Rocha, Lean Manager, in charge of steering the overall approach.
- Aymeric Bessonnet and Paul Mabit, Lean advisors, who support operational projects.
Their mission: to structure, accelerate, and sustain the group’s ambition for industrial excellence.
“Lean Management is nothing new for our group: it’s an approach we’ve been cultivating for a long time. Today, with a dedicated team, we are revitalizing this approach with a clear objective: to strengthen the performance of our industrial activities.”
— Claire Ferreira da Rocha, Lean Manager
“Lean management is not an option but a mindset. For a long time, our teams have been committed to this approach on a daily basis, which extends to all our administrative and production processes. With the creation of a dedicated team, we are taking a new step forward.”
— Cécile Polès, Mathieu Laumonier, and Frédéric Ferrandon for the executive committee
Concrete projects for sustainable results
The Lean team is currently working on improving the efficiency of two initial projects:
1. SPQDC: a comprehensive snapshot of performance at all levels of the company
This tool, a reference in operational performance research, allows for the review of topics such as Safety, Sustainability, Quality, Timeliness, and Cost, and is a major challenge for all company departments: production workshops, support services, and administrative services. The aim of this first Lean project is to standardize and capitalize on best practices in order to speed up the resolution of anomalies and implement improvements reported from the field.
2. 6S: optimizing workstations
The 5S method (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) is a fundamental part of Lean with a focus on Safety in the deployment of the tool. It ensures that every employee has an ergonomic, safe, and efficient working environment.
A long-term vision
Lean Management within the Defontaine Group is not limited to tools or methods. It covers all processes. Lean management is therefore part of a sustainable vision based on:
- Safety to embed a culture of prevention and accountability
- Versatility to ensure the long-term future of our businesses
- Adaptability to respond to customer needs
- Innovation to remain the leader in our markets
Let’s talk about it
Would you like to find out how the Defontaine Group uses Lean to benefit its customers and teams? How this approach transforms industrial processes while empowering employees?
? Contact us to find out more and discuss our vision of progress.
18 November 2025