Caldera, Puntarenas, November 2024 – Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera (SPC) was recognized for Business Excellence: Mature Level by the Costa Rican Chamber of Industries and the companies promoting the Excellence Program.

This important achievement was reached after finalizing the evaluation of the companies participating in the Route to Excellence 2024 process. SPC’s commitment and dedication to excellence was highlighted as a model for strengthening the competitiveness of other organizations.

“This recognition reflects the effective implementation of continuous improvement principles and our team’s commitment to operational excellence. It not only validates our efforts to optimize processes and achieve performance standards, but also reaffirms our responsibility to continue promoting competitive and sustainable development, even given Puerto Caldera’s current challenges,” said general manager Ricardo Ospina.

SPC’s Business Excellence Manager, Andrés Gamboa, gave special thanks to the workers for their constant efforts. “We will continue to strengthen our actions to provide tools that facilitate their work, promoting core values and a workplace setting that inspires continuous improvement,” he said.

Promoting best practices

SPC’s commitment to continuous improvement is strengthened by the creation of the Business Excellence Program, launched in February 2023. It is designed to develop and strengthen all employees’ key competencies, incorporating essential Lean concepts such as Problem Solving, 6S methodology, Visual Management, Lean principles, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work and Voice of the Customer (VoC), among others.

These tools are essential to optimize processes, foster more efficient operations and promote a safe work environment, aligned with the highest standards of performance and sustainability.

The training program has impacted people from all areas of the organization, including employees from operational, technical, safety and quality areas. In addition, it has been extended to employees of the stevedoring cooperatives that operate in the port, highlighting SPC’s commitment to the comprehensive training of all those involved in Puerto Caldera’s operations.

The Excellence Program, promoted by the Chamber of Industries, aims to distinguish organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership and a continuous commitment to improving their processes and quality standards.