André Wall Visits ANN ÉVORA and Celebrates the Team's Commitment to Excellence
On 24TH July 2026 our CEO André Wall visited our facilities in Évora as part of his ongoing tour of our operations.
Accompanied by Miguel Caiado; Juan Pedro Labat;Carolina Margonar; Sara Duarte; Tiago Pratas; João Gaspar; Margarida Dinis;José Garcia; Heribert Schrage; Filomena Manços, Bruno Fera; Juan Pedro Labat; Joana Loureiro, Vera Frango, Miguel Furtado; Heribert Schrage, the day began with introductions and a team presentation, followed by discussions on Safety,Quality, Human Resources, and site operations. The CEO then toured both the Metallics and Composites facilities, meeting employees and observing keyproduction activities across the site.
A Strong Team Driving Transformation and Growth
During the visit, the leadership team presented the remarkable evolution of the facility between 2022 and 2026. Among the highlights shared were a 97% increase in production hours output,continuous productivity improvements, and the successful transformation from a rapid ramp-up environment into a more structured and autonomous operation.
André Wall also learned about key initiatives supporting future growth, including the second phase of capacity expansion with Embraer, ongoing operational improvements, and the implementation of pull-production mechanisms designed to reduce work-in-progress inventory and improve production flow.
The team's commitment to continuous improvement was further demonstrated through projects focused on employee well being, such as the ergonomics initiative in the Praetor wing sealing area, part of the broader People's Health Programme.
Passion, Customer Focus and Quality at the Heart of Success
André highlighted the qualities that stood out most:
"Seeing more than 900 people deserves a huge compliment and impressed me a lot. The passion, the attitude, and the focus on our customers' future needs, together with the high standards established on quality, are remarkable. It was also great to see the team already preparing for the next ramp-up. Muito obrigado!"
Building the Future Together
The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss key challenges that the site continues to address, including workforce stability,supply chain uncertainty, process capability, and the ongoing cultural transition towards greater autonomy and local decision-making.
Memorable Moments from the Visit
Several interactions that took place during the tour of the facilities brought out André's curiosity and his style of practical leadership.
One notable moment came when he requested to visit the material quarantine area to better understand the site's approach to inventory management and the ageing of stored parts, demonstrating his interest in operational details that support performance improvement.
Later, while walking through the production area, he stopped to speak directly with an operator and asked whether he knew the target cycle time for the operation he was performing. The operator answered immediately and confidently, showcasing the strong operational awareness and engagement that exists throughout the team.
Thank You to the ANN ÉVORA Team
The visit to ANN ÉVORA demonstrated once again that our success is built on the dedication, expertise and commitment of our people.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the visit and, more importantly, to the work you do every day. Your passion, customer focus, commitment to quality and readiness for future growth continue to make areal difference for our customers and for the future of our company.
