OREANDA-NEWS. McKinsey & Company, JSC OMZ and Urals Federal University (UrFU) signed an agreement on creating the first lean production model factory in Russia. It will be built in Yekaterinburg in the territory of UrFU.

Model factory is an innovative education method based on extensive international experience and expertise of McKinsey. This company has more than 10 years of experience in the field of model factories creating and conducting programs of active staff training for Russian and international companies. Previous projects in other countries have been carried out in partnership with global market leaders - ABN AMRO, Bosch Rexroth, FriulAdria Credit Agricole, Petrofac as well as with reputable international and national organizations and universities such as European Regional Development Fund, Italian Industry Association, Munich Technical University.

Model factory is a unique training center for modern managing methods in real manufacturing conditions. The method has proved itself to be innovative through product lines set-up in processing departments specially designed for training goals. They are flexibly constructed, so the line can be changed and adjusted to training process needs progressively increasing the effectiveness of the simulated manufacturing process. In such a manner students and instructors of the manufacturing center can implement improvement on practice by getting lean manufacturing experience. This training method guarantees maximal level of know-how perception: international experience of model factories proves that through theoretical classes the ability to recall the material learned decreases to 10% in three months while after going through training on a model factory this indicator exceeds 60%.

The new center will offer training modules for different enterprise types: mechanical processing and assembly essential for workers and managers of manufacturing enterprises as well as banking departments, client and call-center service. The training method will be beneficial for all-level managers and is fully adjusted for Russian profile.

The project is carried out in line with partnership between OMZ, McKinsey and UrFU: OMZ provides with equipment and capital for facilities arrangement, McKinsey - intellectual property and consultancy team for projects launch, UrFu - place, staff and expendable property for the factory.

The launch of the factory is planned for the second half of 2014.

Vadim Makhov, President OMZ: “Creation of such innovative training tool for modern methods of manufacturing process management as Model Factory is the next logical step of OMZ step-by-step approach for development of staff intellectual and managing potential as key market advantage. Earlier OMZ set up a business incubator “Innovation Factory” and launched the contest “Technostart: Urals”. This allows increasing efficient investment in our own research, technological and engineering developments and creating production samples high-demanded at the market.”

Anatoly Ermolov, Partner McKinsey & Company: “With the launch of Model Factory Russian enterprises get the opportunity to improve employees managing and functional skills. Training programs on the factory are aimed not only at managers of engineering enterprises but also at representatives of other companies including service industry. We expect that state institutions will also be interested in Model factory training programs.”

Viktor Koksharov, Principal UrFU: “In line with traditions Model Factory projects are carried out in partnership with leading educational establishments - for example in Germany, Munich Technical University became the partner of the program. We are delighted that Ural Federal University has been chosen as the partner of the first Russian Model Factory. The factory will allow us to provide our students with unique opportunity to get practical experience of working in partnership with leading companies.”