Valtra ranks first in terms of employee initiatives for third year in a row in Finland

05/08/2007

Last year 1566 initiatives per 100 employees were made at Valtra’s Suolahti factory. Second place went to Valmet Automotive Oy, which generated 1414 at its car plant in Uusikaupunki, and third place to Wärtsilä Finland Oy, which generated 970 at its factory in Vaasa. Altogether 187 industrial workplaces in Finland were compared. The average number of initiatives per 100 employees was 85.4.

“Own initiative is one of Valtra’s guiding principles. Coming in first for the third year in a row is an impressive achievement for our personnel and proves that our values are not empty words. I am absolutely convinced that maintaining our competitiveness is based on the active input of our personnel,” comments Managing Director Matti Ruotsala.

Valtra employees are encouraged to offer feedback for both short-term and long-term improvements. Long-term continuous improvement initiatives are particularly popular. Employees can post their continuous improvement initiatives directly on the bulletin board at their workstation. Both the employee and his or her department are rewarded for initiatives that can be implemented. Employees are nominated to ensure that the initiatives are implemented as fast as possible. The most active employees make over 50 initiatives a year for improving their own working environment.

The high number of initiatives is not the goal in itself, but the way in which they help to develop operations and improve products. Rapidly implementing these suggestions helps to motivate employees, increase work safety, and improve the competitiveness and quality of our products.

More information:
Matti Ruotsala, Managing Director, +358 (0)400 487 052, matti.ruotsala@valtra.com
Esa Myllymäki, Development Manager, +358 (0)400 428 767, esa.myllymaki@valtra.com

www.valtra.com

Valtra Inc. develops, manufactures, markets and services Valtra tractors. Valtra is the leading tractor manufacturer in the Nordic countries and the second most popular brand in Latin America. Net sales in 2006 amounted to 869 million euros and the number of employees to 2300, including SisuDiesel and Valtra do Brasil. Total production in Finland and Brazil amounted to 17,500 tractors. Valtra is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation.

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