Procter & Gamble Gillette
Planta Milenio
Irapuato, Mexico

1,130,000 SF • In collaboration with Arup

Planta Milenio is Procter & Gamble’s 1,130,000 sf facility devoted to manufacturing, packaging and shipping blades and razors to distributors worldwide. The plant accommodates 3,000 people in three shifts. Planta Milenio is P&G’s first fully sustainable manufacturing facility in Latin America. Davis Brody Bond and Arup, the global engineering firm, worked together on a fast track program completing the project within two years.

The design process began with a programming exercise to define the process adjacencies. The technical aspects were challenging as the manufacturing process starts with raw materials, formed and assembled in the basic operations area. Once completed, blades and razors are moved into the pack center and packaged into plastic cases and processed for shipping. The integration of a flexible infrastructure enables the facility and the manufacturing process to adjust to newer technologies and production strategies. The central location of a spine through the basic operations area and the pack center allows for direct communication between production, facility management and testing labs. As part of P&G’s commitment to the wellbeing of its staff, a cafeteria, common areas and gymnasium with showers are located in the main entrance building. These common areas are easily accessible and connected to the manufacturing and packaging area through the central administrative office spines. A running path and soccer field are additional amenities.

Light became a key design issue. Studies demonstrated how the presence of natural daylight in a work space improves the psychological wellbeing of the workforce and promotes productivity. The design team made the case that the integration of skylights and windows would make the factory not only a better working environment but would also promote sustainability. The result was the exploration of controlled use of sunlight. P&G benefited from this solution through significant energy savings during daytime work shifts and user satisfaction that supports productivity and the manufacturing process as a whole.

(Photography by Paúl Rivera)