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On April 15–16, 2025, representatives of the woodworking sector from the Danube region countries participated in a study visit to Croatia, organized within the framework of the international project DRWO4.0 – Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model towards Industry 4.0. The purpose of the visit was to explore practices for implementing Lean methodology and Industry 4.0 technologies in modern woodworking companies.
Transformation in practice: Windor and Bauwerk
Participants visited Windor d.o.o. in Pleternica — a window systems manufacturer actively introducing Lean tools into its production processes. Guests had the opportunity to see examples of space optimization, reduction of logistics costs, and organization of workflow streams. An interesting fact is that the company is currently undergoing a transformation and process optimization stage, and it was inspiring to witness their experience of successes, challenges, and occasional failures — all moving in a very promising direction.
The next day, participants visited one of the most successful parquet manufacturers in the region — Bauwerk Group Hrvatska in Đurđevac. The company stands as an example of a complete transformation based on Industry 4.0 principles: automated processes, digital quality control, efficient resource management, and environmental responsibility.
Educational component: Lean and the 8 types of waste
The training sessions were conducted with the participation of Prof. Nedeljko Štefanić, Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Zagreb and a consultant at Culmena. He shared practical tools for implementing Lean methodology in manufacturing, especially in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. Special attention was given to the so-called “8 types of waste,” helping to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in production processes.
Why is this important?
For Ukrainian and other woodworking companies in the Danube region, it is crucial to find new ways to grow. Lean practices and digital transformation not only help improve production efficiency but also enable companies to enter new markets with competitive and sustainable products.
The DRWO4.0 project is implemented under the Interreg program with support from the European Union, bringing together organizations from 10 countries of the Danube region to accelerate the modernization of the woodworking industry.
We would like to thank our partners from the NGO FORZA for their work on this project.
If you are interested in implementing similar approaches in your company — feel free to contact us, and we will plan similar activities in our region.
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