Faccsa-Prolongo, a benchmark in the meat industry, has implemented a company-wide culture of continuous improvement. Luis Polo, Quality Director, explains how the Lean system has enabled them to align production, support services, and strategic direction—with the support of SGS PRODUCTIVITY.
A fully integrated and evolving industrial model
Faccsa-Prolongo is one of the most vertically integrated companies in the meat sector. From slaughterhouse to sausage production, including cutting rooms, packaging lines, cold storage and national and international distribution—the company manages the entire value chain.
In such a complex operational environment, implementing a Lean system was seen as an opportunity to evolve from within. The process began in production, with strategically selected pilot lines. The strong results quickly allowed the model to be extended to other areas, replicating learnings and consolidating a new way of working.
A phased implementation with a holistic vision
Faccsa-Prolongo’s journey with continuous improvement has been gradual and strategic. It began with Lean Manufacturing on the shop floor, followed by specialised training in Lean People for directors and middle managers. The process then expanded into Lean Office, applying the methodology to departments such as IT, Quality, HR, and Administration.
The latest phase is Lean Strategy, aligning the company’s leadership with operational goals and consolidating a comprehensive management approach. As a result, everyone—from operators to executives—now shares the same improvement mindset, common goals, and a unified language.
A culture that keeps evolving
One of the most important achievements has been turning continuous improvement into a culture—one that is ongoing and never static. It’s not a one-off project or a passing trend. It’s a living system embedded in everyday operations across all departments and management levels. And most notably, it’s no longer confined to production but has become a cross-functional pillar of the entire company.
Facing industry challenges with a solid foundation
The meat sector is tackling key challenges: digitalisation, sustainability, food waste reduction, and predictive maintenance. For Faccsa-Prolongo, the Lean system has become the foundation for addressing them all. It enables faster adoption of new technologies, better real-time information management, and alignment between innovation and business objectives.
Luis Polo highlights that one of the differentiating factors has been the ongoing support from the SGS PRODUCTIVITY team. Beyond training, they provide consistent guidance, auditing, and follow-up—ensuring the system stays alive and that no people or processes are left behind in the transformation.
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