Since 1993, the Group as a whole has been implementing a carefully structured Continuous Improvement approach based on the following principles:

Policy Deployment

Each plant defines its own Company Wide Project every year in a participatory manner and the corresponding Improvement Plans it is committed to implementing. The Objectives adopted are then listed in detail for each department and for each team. Regular monitoring of Indicators allows each one to follow the firm's progress towards the goals set.

Total Quality

Problem Resolution Groups along with systems to encourage Suggestions as well as Profit Sharing based on annually sliding objectives are continuously being developed to increase the staff's motivation and sense of commitment.

All production plants have received or are in the process of obtaining ISO 9001 or ISO/TS 16949 Certification.

 Human Potential Development

The Group is investing in Individuals through a sustained training policy adapted to the concrete problems faced in the course of one's professional career.

Its executives benefit from a customised Management Training Programme within the framework of the INSEAD / CEDEP schools (from 2 to 9 weeks according to responsibility level).

In cooperation with the French National Education Department, it has also established a Foundry School in Lyon to train first-line supervisors.

In total, the Group devotes 3.5% of its payroll to training.

Materials, Products, and Process Innovations

AFE is conducting a determined innovation policy: 3.5% of its turnover is permanently set aside for R&D.

All the plants have a multi-year Innovations Programme underway intended to improve materials, products, and processes.

Innovation is also increasingly focused on rounding out the product offering with associated services (machining, surface treatments, painting, pre-assembly, assembly, etc.) thereby enabling customers to improve their performance levels through the simplification of their own logistics.

A Sustained Investment Policy

The Group invests 4% of its turnover on average to renovate its tools and implement development Projects (acquisitions, "greenfield" factory construction, process re-engineering, etc.).

In addition, intangible asset investment programmes (software, new work methods, reorganisation, etc.) are regularly conducted to improve the quality level of its customer services over the long term.