Equal Winner:  Productivity and Improvement for the resources sector

When the Whyalla Steelworks was bought by GFG Liberty Primary Steel in late 2017 the plant was making a loss of from $15 million to $25 million each month. The Steelworks produces 1.2 million tonnes of steel per annum, supplies 70% of the Australian steel products market, and is the major employer in Whyalla.

In 2019 the Continuous Improvement Program was introduced to improve productivity and reduce costs. 1600 steelworkers have contributed to the program, with over 400 improvement initiatives focused on safety, efficiency and cost reduction.

Ideal generation sessions which engaged front-line workers were implemented. To date over 250 of these ideas have been actioned and the pipeline of initiatives are still strong. This was made possible through active engagement, building problem solving capability, innovative measurement systems and fast executive decision support.

The Continuous Improvement Program has re-established the financial success of Liberty Whyalla Steelworks, provided further employment for the local community, allowed the company to re-engage in apprenticeships, traineeships, graduate programs, vacation student programs and other partnerships, and continue to be a major contributor to the social fabric of the Whyalla community.

More about working for Liberty Whyalla Steelworks

Jason Schell, Managing Director at Liberty Primary Steel fills you in on what's great about working in South Australia, with advice for anyone wanting to discover the exciting prospects when joining the steel industry.

Shu Chen, Manager Continuous Improvement at Liberty Primary Steel discusses the value of weekly continuous improvement newsletters to recognise the contribution of employees.