Every project is unique
Understanding our industrial process
We produce 800 bespoke fit-out projects every day, each one different, each one made to measure, with no mass production or stock. So every day, we create a kitchen we’ve never made before, a walk-in wardrobe with a unique layout, or a piece of furniture for under the stairs fitted to the millimetre.
And all this is made possible by our organisation, methods and technologies, and above all the intelligence and expertise of the men and women who form the heart of this complex system.
Order process
From the moment the order is placed in-store to the installation of the furniture at the customer’s premises, the total lead time for a project is 8 weeks.
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8 weeks
Drawing on the expertise of the men and women in the industry
Around 800 employees work directly at our four production sites, divided equally between technical roles — maintenance, machine and plant operation — and process roles — quality control, materials handling. This balance reflects a fundamental principle of our industrial model: technology does not replace people. It is people who operate the machinery and design the industrial processes.
The best improvements to our processes come from the day-to-day experience of our operators, who identify problems, suggest solutions and help the system to improve.
We provide ongoing training for all our staff, from operators to engineers, directly at our production sites. Every year, around 100 work-study students join the company. 35% of them are recruited upon completion of their training, whilst 25% continue their studies within the group. We also offer Certificates of Professional Qualification (CQP) for operators without prior training, enabling them to acquire a solid technical foundation and progress to machine operator roles.
This culture of learning is rooted in our Alsatian and German heritage, where the passing on of skills has historically shaped the industrial fabric. But beyond this heritage, it is a conviction: intelligence lies on the shop floor.
Ensuring the quality of our products
This combination of human and industrial expertise is only meaningful if it results in products that deliver on their promises over time. That is why our quality system underpins our entire process, from the selection of raw materials right through to installation at the customer’s premises. This commitment is present at every stage and upheld by every member of staff.
Deploying smart technologies
We have been using algorithms for over 15 years…
…long before the term ‘artificial intelligence’ became popular. Today, we integrate technology and AI into all our processes: from bespoke project design by the design-sales representative to predictive maintenance.
Of all our areas of focus, data management and reliability are strategic.
Every part has a unique barcode. There is no concept of batches or groupings at Schmidt Groupe. Every panel, every drawer, every front is tracked individually from start to finish.
The technical configurator — an in-house developed algorithm — breaks down each kitchen into material requirements, machining programmes and production flows.
And more than 100 in-house IT specialists design and organise all of the company’s smart technologies.
Innovating to stand out
Faced with the major players in the sector in the 1960s, we had a choice: enter into a price war or set ourselves apart. We chose to set ourselves apart.
How? By consistently offering what our competitors do not.
Twenty years ago, when customers could only find oak or white finishes on the market, we began offering ten colours. Today, we offer fifty, with the option of bespoke lacquering in any shade.
This differentiation strategy drives us to constantly innovate. In our products. In our machinery. In our sales tools.
We challenge our suppliers to develop the machines or materials we need that are not yet available on the market.
Our recent innovations include the configuration of client projects using artificial intelligence:
- Styl’IA is an augmented configurator developed in collaboration with the Strasbourg-based company Hapticmedia, which helps clients visualise their project, refine their plans and see prices update in real time.
- Dreamview is an AI rendering tool that transforms a technical project into a realistic and immersive visual in a matter of seconds, automatically enhanced to help the client visualise the outcome and speed up their final decision.
At Schmidt Groupe, the innovation strategy is not limited to manufacturing; it is everywhere: in sales, in products, in services, and in materials.
Innovating for sustainable living
Automate to improve performance
200 robots have been deployed across our four production sites
At Schmidt Groupe, the automation of our factories began in 2008 and is gathering pace with every factory refurbishment or new site.
Articulated arms, automated gripping systems, our robots do not replace humans. They relieve them of the most arduous tasks. Carrying heavy loads, handling bulky parts, repeating repetitive movements: these are all situations where a robot brings direct benefits in terms of health and safety at work.
The employee remains present, taking on a role of overseeing, monitoring and improving the machine’s performance.
We are also working on improving the ergonomics of workstations: testing exoskeletons to reduce muscular strain, adjusting heights and distances, and reorganising workflows to minimise unnecessary movement.
These investments are part of a long-term strategy: to enable our employees to work in good conditions throughout their careers.
Fostering continuous improvement
Continuous improvement underpins our corporate culture
We have developed this ability to challenge ourselves in order to build, day by day, the company of tomorrow. This principle is based on a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, daily improvements, proposed and implemented on an ongoing basis by our operational teams; on the other hand, disruptive investments that transform our production capabilities.
Discover our culture of continuous improvement
