About a year ago, Ofir Ram stepped into the role of CEO, succeeding Dudu Leib. With 17 years of experience at Rion, his most recent role before this appointment was Operations Manager. Replacing him is Nadav Zamir, who also brings extensive tenure with the company.
Naturally, for executives in such pivotal positions, there are strategic plans and long-term visions for improving, streamlining, and advancing the company. The first year in office typically focuses on initiating various projects that set the tone for new leadership.
What happens when war suddenly breaks out?
Shortly after Ofir and Nadav began their new roles, Israel faced one of its most significant challenges in history following the October 7th attacks. On top of this, there was the persistent missile fire from Hezbollah in the north. Rion, located in Kibbutz Cabri, just 7 kilometers from the northern border, found itself on the frontline.
“Our first priority was to maintain stability amid these challenging security conditions,” says Ofir. “This involved several aspects: foremost was ensuring the safety of our employees, most of whom continued coming to work. Some were called up for extended military reserves, and employees living near the border were relocated to safer areas. On the economic and social fronts, we focused on maintaining supply chain continuity for our customers and minimizing uncertainty. We made operational adjustments at both Rion and Plastokit to address the shortage of workers.”
Despite the circumstances, the production facility halted operations for only a single day of reorganization at the start of the conflict and has since resumed round-the-clock operations.
Significant challenges in recruiting workers
Against the backdrop of war, the need for recruitment became even more urgent, as many employees were called to active duty in a short period. Recruiting quality workers for the production floor became increasingly challenging. Because of the war, young individuals often transition directly from military service to reserve duty. Also, the frontline location can be a deterrent, and thriving industries that benefit from wartime demand make it harder to attract workers to the plastics sector.
One solution to the labor shortage is automation, and Rion has long embraced this approach, continuing to expand it significantly. “As part of our drive for efficiency, we’re identifying areas heavily dependent on manpower and introducing automation solutions to free employees for more meaningful tasks,” says Nadav. Automation and production efficiency were key goals he highlighted when he stepped into his new role.
“In addition, we design and build our molds to be future-ready for automation, even when it isn’t part of a customer’s request. This approach ensures we continue to innovate and adopt further automation solutions.”
Implementing the MARS production management system
Additional example of Nadav’s goals was to improve and enhance the reliability of production data. This objective was achieved with the successful implementation of the MARS system for managing production on the injection floor. Developed by parent company Plasson, the system was installed remarkably quickly, within just a few months.
“The new software offers immense added value. Data is now accessible and clear to everyone—from injection operators and setup technicians to shift managers, production managers, and operational leaders. As a result, we’ve been able to grow and improve our OEE metrics, and I plan to extend MARS to additional departments within the company.”
What do we wish for the New Year?
At the end of a tough year, with a cease-fire that started only recently, Ofir refuses to abandon optimism. “It’s often said that anyone who isn’t an optimist can’t be a farmer or an industrialist,” he says with a smile. “We believe that once this challenging period ends, significant growth will follow, and we’re preparing for that moment. Despite the circumstances, we’ve continued pursuing business development opportunities to showcase Rion’s capabilities in new markets. Our wish for everyone is that the hostages, evacuees, soldiers, and reservists all return home safely, so we can resume a normal life marked by prosperity and growth.”
Nadav adds, “I deeply appreciate and am incredibly grateful to all the employees who’ve persevered through the war. My wish is for a calm year, full of activity and progress. Let’s return to being the Startup Nation with a strong industry and innovative thinking.”
