Grupo K1’s innovation strategy plays an essential role in maximizing the strategic use of resources, achieving better cost-benefit results, reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and enhancing the quality of products and processes. The innovation journey takes place through different mechanisms within the Grow and Innovate Program, which include: Share Your Idea, Improvement Groups, Focused Improvement, Training and Practical Challenges, and Technological Innovation.

Share Your Idea Program

In the Share Your Idea initiative, Grupo K1 employees have the opportunity to take part in the company’s continuous improvement process through an open channel for suggestions, which are categorized into the following themes:

• Communication: Improving the flow of information and/or access to it.
• Ergonomics & Safety: Improving working conditions.
• 5S: Increasing workplace organization and reducing time spent searching for tools and materials.
• Environment: Reducing process waste; optimizing resource usage.
• Maintenance: Issues affecting equipment quality and productivity, time losses, and material losses.
• Machine Productivity: Increasing OEE, minimizing machine downtime, maximizing cycle efficiency, and reducing rework.
• Labor Productivity: Reducing or optimizing time spent on non–value-added activities.
• Technology & Automation: New technologies that can help optimize processes.
• Energy Efficiency: Maximizing the use of natural resources and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Improvement Groups

Multifunctional teams in each business unit meet weekly for 30 minutes. They act as points of contact and leaders of improvement execution within their areas.
All projects follow standardized best practices and project management tools.

Focused Improvement

Carried out through the analysis of productivity and quality indicators, followed by the creation of action plans during monthly meetings with production leaders.

Training and Practical Challenges

Training sessions are conducted on best practices and various tools that enhance productivity, efficiency, quality, and more. These trainings lead to innovations through the practical application of the concepts covered in the classroom.

Technological Innovation

The company makes use of technological innovations through practical tools applied in daily operations, which in turn increase the perceived value of these applications and encourage the search for additional solutions through startups, technology events, and automation fairs.
To learn more about the program, contact: esggrupok1@grupok1.com.br

Project Workflow at Grupo K1

The Project Department plays a direct role in leading innovative and high-impact initiatives for Grupo K1. A notable example is the expansion of the e-commerce sector into new regions and countries, a movement that requires integration and collaboration across multiple departments, including sales, finance, legal, manufacturing, logistics, marketing, information technology (IT), among others. This work is guided by a structured and well-defined workflow that ensures alignment among areas and the fulfillment of deadlines, goals, and quality standards.
The process follows the main steps below:

1. Project Charter

Every relevant project begins with a charter containing:

• Project description
• Objectives
• Justifications
• Responsible parties
• Other essential contextual information

2. Feasibility Plan
With the project charter completed, the project proceeds to the analysis and approval of the feasibility plan. Only after this stage is the project officially approved and integrated into the portfolio.

3. Scope Meetings
After approval, scope meetings are held with the stakeholders to detail the deliverables, expectations, and responsibilities.

4. Execution Monitoring
During project execution, periodic follow-up meetings are conducted, either weekly or biweekly, depending on the level of urgency and complexity of each project.

5. Project Duration
Each project may have a:
• Short duration
• Medium duration
• Long duration
Meetings and monitoring frequency are adjusted according to the estimated execution time.

Monitoring IT Improvements

In addition to managing strategic projects, the department also monitors IT-related initiatives and improvements, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.