Crown

Crown is the world leader in metal packaging technology. With operations in 42 countries employing over 24,000 people and with net sales of $6.9 billion, they provide global breadth as well as regional expertise. When subsidiary CarnaudMetalBox (CMB) moved its can manufacturing operation from UK to Russia, CMB commissioned Walkgrove to capture the manufacturing process information for training of operatives who would in the future be responsible for such equipment.

Walkgrove supplied a project engineer on a short term contract to work with CMB’s subject matter expert to assist with the preparation of training manuals and presentation materials. The engineer worked on site in Bolton for several weeks. The project was focused on high volume can end manufacture using an operating crank press and the in-line process equipment. This complete press line was later shipped to the site in Russia for incorporation into a high volume can manufacturing operation.

All stages of the manufacturing process were covered in a comprehensive series of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which described each stage of press operation and maintenance. Photographs were taken to illustrate the SOPs which were written in four levels of complexity, aimed at gradually improving and increasing the knowledge to be assimilated by the trainees. The CMB subject matter expert provided technical data and helped to shape the content and Walkgrove were responsible for operating instructions, quality control and publication of the SOPs to meet CMB’s corporate standards.

The approach was useful and effective and trainees have found the illustrated materials easy to follow and apply. CMB subsequently extended the in-house Training Programme to enable its supervisory staff to prepare their own training materials for delivery during the commissioning and handover phase on site.