Europe Snacks Case Study: 5S Shadow Board Storage Solutions

Europe Snacks

Strengthening 5S throughShadow Board Equipment Storage

Europe Snacks operates to strict 5S principles to meet customer standards and ensure production areas are always audit-ready. Central to this is having equipment that is easy to sort, set in order, shine, standardise, and sustain. However, their previous approach to equipment storage was working against these goals and created three key challenges:

Challenge 1: Fixing Methods

Equipment was previously stored on shelves that were drilled into the wall. Drilled holes can create potential harbourage points for bacteria – an additional concern for hygiene teams. Plus, changes to the storage layout required these holes to be filled immediately.

Challenge 2: Equipment Organisation

Without a clearly defined storage system, equipment was often placed back randomly on shelves, complicating equipment management and making it harder for teams to quickly find the right utensils.

Challenge 3: Limited Flexibility

Relocating equipment was time-consuming and disruptive, as it required drilling additional holes – further undermining 5S principles.

Europe Snacks is a leading European manufacturer of stacked potato chips and maize-based extruded and fried snacks. With operations across France, the UK, and Spain, the company runs nine manufacturing sites and employs 2,150 team members.

Europe Snacks works closely with major retailers and co-manufacturing partners, delivering high-quality products while meeting the highest standards of quality, safety, and service.

The Solution – Magnetic Shadow Boards

Magnetic shadow boards provided an effective way to address these challenges and better manage equipment in production areas. Because the boards are magnetic, they can be quickly lifted off the wall and relocated to meet changing requirements. Tools can also be moved closer to workstations to boost productivity and reduce downtime.

Additionally, the boards make equipment highly visible. Instead of searching through shelves of randomly placed items, teams can instantly see if any tools are missing or damaged. This not only helps minimise downtime but also drives standards of food safety by ensuring only suitable equipment is used.

Learn more about Shadow Boards with Magnetic Mounting

“Shadow boards provide a simple way to manage equipment in production areas. Because the magnetic boards are mobile, they can be relocated easily to meet new requirements. Issues, like damaged or missing equipment, are also easy to spot.”

Frederick Tagoe, Internal Food Safety and Quality Auditor at Europe Snacks

The Results – What was the impact?

Since introducing magnetic shadow boards to their production areas, Europe Snacks has seen clear improvements. 5S processes are stronger, and maintaining compliance has become easier and more consistent.

Operatives also have quick and easy access to equipment, with utensils clearly displayed and immediately visible. This visibility not only speeds up operations but also helps ensure that only well-maintained, suitable tools are used, supporting both productivity and food safety standards.

Designing the Shadow Boards & Customer Service

Frederick Tagoe, Internal Food Safety and Quality Auditor at Europe Snacks, discussed the important role that customer service played in the shadow board project.

Frederick explained that working with Klipspringer made the process smooth and efficient, saying, “Customer experience is amazing. The speed of response is great and the systems Klipspringer have in place actually work. Whether it’s a product or a bespoke service, Klipspringer always delivers on time.”