The operator program is a global initiative to give participants a common foundation to stand on and a clearer grasp of their own mission from a broader perspective. The program has been developed within the framework of the Suzuki Garphyttan Academy and has now been implemented at all sites except Leeds (planned for the first quarter of 2026). In China and Mexico, the train-the-trainer concept has been applied. This means that operators there have been trained by colleagues who first attended the trainer and operator programs in Garphyttan, Sweden.
“One comment from participants is that they now have the full picture. They see their own part in the chain. It is simply much more fun to go to work and more motivating when you understand the purpose behind each step,” says Ludvig Björkman, who helped set up the operator program. He has worked with quality and improvement efforts at Suzuki Garphyttan since 2021.
Theory meets everyday life on the floor
During an intensive day, participants learn everything from basic metallurgy and what happens to the wire in the various process steps, to how the company works with systematic improvements. It is also more than a century of industrial heritage meeting new ways of learning. At Site Garphyttan, skills often live on for generations.
Benefits at several levels
The course involves more than challenging wire engineering. One of the most appreciated elements is a competition in making a paper airplane. It may sound like a game, but it’s also a way to make things like lean principles and flow optimization more tangible. By building, testing and improving the planes, participants get to see how small adjustments in a process can make a difference to the end result.
“There’s a lot of laughter, but also a lot of ‘aha’ moments,” says Ludvig.
A common language
The benefits of the program can be seen on several levels. Individual employees are given tools to be able to contribute to continuous improvements in their daily work. However, it is equally about breaking down walls between departments and countries. The same training package is used at all sites, creating a community that extends beyond the actual site.
“We create an interface between people with similar jobs, but who might never otherwise meet. The same is true internationally. By running the same program for everyone, we foster a common language. No matter which site you work at, you gain the same foundation to stand on and a common understanding of what it takes to make us even better.” '
