![FieldTrip FieldTrip](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/FieldTrip.jpg)
Onion crop profile & processing cost reduction
Project Objectives
- Analyse the characteristics sought by Harvest Moon’s onion customer base
- Produce a target crop profile
- Examine the value chain of the onion production system and identify ways to improve its efficiency and effectiveness
- Install new packaging equipment and reconfigure the processing, grading and packing line in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the line
Project Team
![lisa-hatten-new](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/lisa-hatten-new.jpg)
Lisa Hatten
Harvest Moon
![andrew-doran](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/andrew-doran.jpg)
Andrew Doran
Harvest Moon
![placeholder](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/placeholder.jpg)
Ben Shankland
Harvest Moon
![elesha-spillane-new](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/elesha-spillane-new.jpg)
Elesha Spillane
Petuna
![matthew-saunders](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/matthew-saunders.jpg)
Matthew Saunders
Direct Edge Manufacturing
Facilitator
![bob-cother-colour](https://businessactionlearningtas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/bob-cother-colour.jpg)
Bob Cother
The Action Learning Institute
Key measurables
- Alignment of crop produced with customer requirements
- Efficiency and effectiveness of receival, processing, grading and packing of onions
- Improved profitability of Harvest Moon’s onion enterprise
Companies involved
- Harvest Moon
- Petuna
- Direct Edge Manuafacturing
Approach taken
- Detailed briefing from senior management
- Field visit, initial tour of onion processing operations and storyboard of initial impressions
- Process Mapping
- Stakeholder interviews
- Cause and Effect Analysis on cost per tonne for packaging
- Direct observation of production and processing
- Video studies and analysis
- Data collection and analysis
- Identification and evaluation of options
- Specification of seven projects for implementation stage:
- Crop Profile Strategy
- Crop Sampling
- Onion Line Operation
- Prepack Location
- Packing Cell Design
- Grading and Waste
- Cool Store Energy Use
Summary of outcomes
- Less hectares required to achieve customer requirements
- Improved line balancing with more effective allocation of crops to customers
- Reduced cost per tonne through improved utilisation of personnel
- Reduced cost, faster response time, less Work-in-Process
- 15-20% improvement in labour productivity
- Improved profitability by minimising unnecessary downgrading of product
- Reduced energy usage and product degradation in cool stores