The factory of the future.

Our tractor factory is located in Le Mans, Northwestern France. 10,000 custom-built machines are produced here each year. Since the “CLAAS Forth” modernization initiative, the site has been a prime example not only of the practical implementation of Industry 4.0 but also of the workforce's involvement in major projects.

09/10/2024

It's no ordinary factory—that's what Romane Niepceron likes about it. "It's a very friendly, informal place to work," says the 27-year-old fitter. Yet the CLAAS Industry 4.0 factory in Le Mans is a hive of activity, with over 750,000 ft2 of covered production space, 1,000 employees, and 10,000 tractors produced each year.

So what makes it feel so friendly? For Romane Niepceron, it’s all down to the working environment. “The factory is quiet, bright, and well-lit,” she explains. “And there’s plenty of room to move around.”

Focus on the people.

For 20 years now, most CLAAS tractors have been manufactured at our factory in Le Mans, France. During this time, the production process has continuously evolved.

PascalPaumier (for Claas) 0323-70 F HRes-min

Restructuring while remaining operational.

That wasn’t always the case. Before 2017, the factory looked much like any other tractor factory: it was darker, and the space was cramped—almost like a giant garage. The equipment CLAAS inherited when the company acquired the factory from another manufacturer in 2003 was also in dire need of an upgrade.

The CLAAS Forth project was designed to modernize the site. The goal was to get it right the first time when assembling tractors and minimize the error rate. The three-year restructuring program, which cost just over $43 million, meant not only replacing the technical equipment but also overhauling all processes—from the internal logistics system to the equipment for filling machines with various fluids.

The challenge was to carry out the restructuring during ongoing operations. Major upgrades could only be carried out once a year during the plant’s four-week summer break without disrupting production operations. This meant that most of the modernization work had to be done alongside day-to-day operations.

The fact that the factory does not have a traditional large-scale production line, despite assembling 50 tractors per day, made this particularly difficult. You see, each tractor is made to order—from a product range of five different models with performance ratings ranging from 72 to 460 hp. The number of possible configurations is so vast that no more than two identical tractors are produced in any given quarter.

“A mixed feeling of pride and trust.”

In an interview, site manager Etienne Bourasseau explains how the tractor factory in Le Mans has evolved.

Digital planning and driverless transport vehicles.

Three factors were key to the successful rollout of the project. Firstly, the modernization was digitally planned. "Our first step was to map the factory and all the associated buildings in a 3D software program," explains Aldric Pavec, Head of Process Engineering in Le Mans, France. The 57-year-old was responsible for the CLAAS Forth planning phase. This allowed us to model the entire restructuring—and then use 3D animations and VR headsets to test live on-site whether specific processes could be made even more efficient."

The second factor that enabled us to restructure the factory was removing the previous chain conveyor line and replacing it with automated guided vehicles (AGVs). These robots can transport tractors weighing up to 20 t along the 3/4 mile (1.2 km) assembly line from the first station to the last—fully automatically and with flexibly timed sequences.

Sensors on the front cause the machines to brake automatically when obstacles are detected, allowing employees to move safely between the AGVs without risk of injury.

The removal of the tow conveyor freed up open spaces on the factory floor for other restructuring work. At the same time, the AGVs made the production process more flexible, which also benefitted the CLAAS Forth project.

Insights from our colleagues

01 / 03

“Customer satisfaction is very important to us. We’re highly motivated, and this, coupled with state-of-the-art technology, is what drives us to produce the premium quality our tractors are known for.”

– Alexandre Lanson, Director of SFQuality

Involving the workforce.

The third and perhaps most important factor in the project's success was the workforce's involvement. "We really wanted the restructuring to relieve the burden of day-to-day work for the employees," says Aldric Pavec, Head of Process Engineering. At the same time, they know the assembly process better than anyone, so it was essential for us to involve them closely in the project."

This is why virtually no outside consultants worked on the project. The core team consisted of 50 employees, including engineers, assembly line workers, and apprentices. The departments Controlling, HR, Purchasing, Logistics and R&D were also involved.

The workforce participated in all phases of the project. Even the name CLAAS Forth was chosen by them. A CLAAS Forth Forum that was open to all took place once a week in Le Mans, where employees were informed of changes and the reasoning behind them. In addition, employees were regularly shown how to operate the new systems.
I have often seen fitters in the factory taking selfies.

A multitude of Industry 4.0 elements

Romane Niepceron agrees that involving the employees was worth it. She’s in charge of filling the trolleys that are attached magnetically to the AGVs and used to transport all the bolts and small components required to assemble a specific tractor.

Before the restructuring, Romane Niepceron needed a long list to pick the right parts for the trolley. Now, she finds them by scanning the barcodes on the shelves with her gloves. When a light goes on in a compartment, she knows that this is where she’ll find the part or machine element she needs for the trolley.

This system is just one example of the multitude of Industry 4.0 elements in this state-of-the-art factory. Network-integrated tools support operators in a wide range of tasks, from receiving jobs to checking off checklists. The massive warehousing system has been replaced with a space-saving automated small-parts storage system.

The digital assistants are making an impact. The number of cases where a minor assembly error has to be corrected downstream has decreased dramatically, from 200 times to less than once a day. And that’s with tens of thousands of parts assembled daily in Le Mans!

The site’s technical equipment has also impressed the French government, which presented the tractor factory with the “Vitrine Industrie Du Futur” award as an example of an “Industry of the Future.”

RomaneNiepceron (Claas) 0722-36 F V1 Tatoo

250 tons of new paint.

The new, friendlier working environment is also the result of employees’ suggestions: all the walls and the ceiling have been repainted with around 250 tons of white paint, and the floors are light gray. Together with the LED lighting, this gives the impression of daylight.

Various actions have also been taken to curb noise levels in the factory. For instance, the flooring was treated to reduce the noise of transport vehicles, and quieter electric screwdrivers are now used instead of pneumatic air guns. “We recently had a visit from a manager in the semiconductor industry,” explains Aldric Pavec. She could hardly believe that tractors could be built in such a clean and quiet environment.”

The changes have also gone down very well with the workforce. “The employees are very proud of the modernized factory,” says site manager Etienne Bourasseau. We often hear that they now feel really welcome, and that has improved the workplace culture even further. I’ve often seen assembly line workers in the factory taking selfies.”

Aldric Pavec can confirm this. “We recently conducted interviews to find new assembly line workers,” he explains. “Several candidates had already worked in many other factories in Le Mans. They told us that our factory is now considered to be the best place to work in the city.”

A day in the life of the Le Mans factory

Video Thumbnail CLAAS | Many Places. One Passion. Le Mans. DE (Thumbnail)

CLAAS Forth set to continue.

The fact that CLAAS Forth has now been extended to other areas of the factory shows how popular it is with employees. Modernization of the assembly hall for tractor cabs has been underway since February 2021—on the initiative of the employees.

The 'Cabin Optimization Project' is led by Gilles Drouyer. "This project is closely aligned with CLAAS Forth principles”, says the 30-year-old engineer, who has worked for CLAAS for five years. “Involving the workforce in the planning is paramount."

That’s why two skilled workers are permanent members of the project team. Jeremy Legendre is one of them. The 30-year-old works in production and likes his new role. “It’s interesting to see daily operations from another perspective,” he says.

The “Cabin Optimization Project” will be completed in March 2023. “I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrades to our part of the factory,” says Jeremy Legendre.

Like the CLAAS Forth initiative, Gilles Drouyer and Jeremy Legendre’s project is intended to prepare the factory for the future. In the next few years, the company plans to expand production in Le Mans—from the current 10,000 to 13,000 tractors a year.

Romane Niepceron is looking forward to the new developments, too. The 27-year-old has been working at the Le Mans factory for five years and was recently promoted to parts commissioning specialist. “The factory is a good place to develop your career,” she says—another reason why she likes it here.

Five facts about Le Mans

1.

Le Mans is the capital of Sarthe, a region in the Pays de Loire region of Northwestern France—it lies about 125 miles (200 km) southwest of Paris. With 146,000 inhabitants in the city and 201,000 in the metropolitan area as a whole, Le Mans is ranked the 20th largest city in France.

2.

Le Mans is twinned with Paderborn, Germany—where CLAAS Industrietechnik has its headquarters. Europe’s oldest known city partnership dates back to 836 when Aldrich, Bishop of Le Mans, and Badurad, Bishop of Paderborn, formed a “union of eternal brotherhood” between their dioceses. It came about when, in 836, the bones of a saint were transported in solemn procession from Le Mans to Paderborn, which had no relics at the time.

3.

The city is known worldwide for the 24-hour endurance race. This competition has been held in mid-June every year since 1923 on public roads that are closed for the race. The Drivers’ Parade takes place on the eve of the race when spectators have a chance to meet the drivers and see their cars.

4.

The FFSA Academy is Le Mans’ training center for racing drivers. It has produced three 24-hour race winners: Romain Dumas, Benoît Tréluyer, and Marcel Fässler.

5.

Agriculture is the largest employer in Sarthe. This sector covers the whole spectrum, from livestock and the food industry to winegrowing, tree nurseries and market gardens. The second largest employer is the automotive industry.

CLAAS Omaha in pictures

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Ten thousand tractors are produced at the CLAAS factory in Le Mans each year. Each machine is made to order—according to the individual customer’s specifications.