With over 130 years of history, Mahou San Miguel has continuously evolved without losing its essence. Verónica Aranda, Director of Operations Organisation, shares how the company has implemented a continuous improvement system that brings all teams together under a common methodology—driving sustainability, efficiency, and a shared culture, with the support of SGS PRODUCTIVITY.
A history of growth and diversity
Mahou San Miguel is the leading brewery in the Spanish market. A 100% family-owned company, it operates 10 production centres—8 in Spain and 2 in the United States—along with 4 springs with bottling plants and a team of nearly 4,000 professionals. Over the years, the company has integrated well-known brands like San Miguel, Reina, Alhambra, and Solán de Cabras, and now exports to over 70 countries.
This growth brought an organisational challenge: unifying different sites under a shared model. The answer was clear—create a common management system to serve as a methodological framework across all plants and teams. That’s how Mahou San Miguel’s continuous improvement system was born.
Communication, alignment, and structure
The starting point was to strengthen the fundamentals. The initial focus was on improving communication structures on the shop floor and encouraging idea generation. But it wasn’t just about opening communication channels—it was about helping every team member understand the “why” behind improvement and how their contributions align with the company’s global objectives.
From the beginning, industrial leadership showed clear commitment. Gemba walks (visits to employees at their workstations) weren’t symbolic—they involved asking the right questions, fostering meaningful conversations, and reinforcing a visible and supportive leadership culture.
Flexibility with purpose
One of the keys to the model’s success has been its flexibility. Not every tool is deployed the same way in every facility. Every decision is based on one guiding question: Does this bring us closer to Mahou San Miguel’s goals and way of doing things? Only if the answer is yes does the team move forward. This approach has allowed the system to grow consistently and meaningfully.
The implementation of Lean methodologies was another decisive step. Improvement became not just operational, but strategic. The goal was to extend the system beyond the production floor—embedding it throughout the organisation and consolidating a unified way of working.
Tangible and cultural impact
The system has delivered visible benefits from the outset: waste reduction, direct cost savings, and productivity improvements. But the most profound change has been cultural. Today, Mahou San Miguel has more autonomous teams, a mindset focused on measurement and progress, and a new way of working rooted in continuous improvement. A transformation that depends not only on processes, but on committed people.
The partnership with SGS PRODUCTIVITY began through benchmarking with other companies. Although Mahou had already laid the foundation for its system, it needed expert support to fully deploy Lean tools.
The training sessions and pilot projects carried out with SGS PRODUCTIVITY had immediate impact. Their hands-on, approachable style—aligned with Mahou’s values—was well received by teams. Since then, the collaboration has continued to grow.
Looking to implement a system that unifies people, sites, and culture through sustainable continuous improvement?