Operational efficiency of mills was recognized by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM)

São Paulo, March 28, 2024 – Klabin's mills in Itajaí and Lages, both in Santa Catarina, have received the “Award for TPM Excellence - Category A” from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM), a Japanese audit firm that evaluates companies around the world. The award attests to the improvements made by the Company in operational efficiency and in implementing the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) methodology.

The official announcement was made during the TPM Awards 2023 ceremony held in Kyoto, Japan, on March 20, which was attended by Pedro Paulo da Luz, industrial manager of the Itajaí mill; Amilton Costa Rocha, industrial manager; Antonio Carlos de Liz, product development manager - industrial bags; and Denis Nicolau Pereira Correia, coordinator - continuous improvement at Klabin..
The Lages unit has now become the first industrial bags mill in the world to win the JIPM Award, which marks its trajectory of challenges being overcome and lessons being learned in production. The Itajaí unit became the first corrugated board mill in Brazil to win the award - the result of its track record of operational excellence.

The TPM methodology is related to operational efficiency as it results in the elimination of losses, and reduction of downtimes and costs, as well as quality assurance. Amilton Rocha, industrial manager, this certification is a huge achievement.  “It is the result of three years of intense efforts involving everyone at the mill, but we obtained the approval, improved our productivity and operational efficiency, groomed people and managed to meet JIPM’s requirements”. 

“Time was the biggest challenge, but the Itajaí unit proved worthy of this pioneering achievement. Our multidisciplinary teams worked behind the scenes to build success cases such as zero breakdowns and zero defects. The commitment and dedication of everyone were the ingredients in this recipe for success", said Pedro Paulo da Luz, industrial manager at Klabin in Itajaí. 

The recognition of two more mills underlines the consistently high level of Klabin’s operations.  The Angatuba unit had already obtained the A seal in 2021, consolidating the Company's position as one of the pioneers in operational efficiency across Latin America.