Lean Solutions For Lean Times

Media release for immediate use – June 16 2009

Lean Solutions For Lean Times

A Christchurch-based company is building on an already impressive reputation for its skill in trimming processes rather than staff, even in lean economic times.

Simply Lean Consulting has worked with more than 60 different organisations in New Zealand and Australia to improve productivity, quality, safety, customer service and leadership.

New owners, and long-time Simply Lean consultants, Peter Cox and Martin Bennett say companies are asking for their expertise in what is known as Lean Thinking, which developed out of the Toyota Production System.

“Companies come to us looking for ways to maximise productivity, profit and staff involvement through streamlining their operation without shedding staff,” says Peter Cox. “We identify ways to maximise continuous improvement in every process.

“Within a short time walking around a company we can see opportunities for improvement. That’s not saying what staff are doing is wrong, but it is saying that considerable improvement is achievable.”

The Simply Lean team works with each company for 12 months and implements a tailored and detailed plan to realise the planned improvements.

“We set and achieve big goals, such as 25% increase in production and leadtime, 50% reduction in inventory and down time,” says Peter. “It’s not being ruthless, it’s signalling the business needs to do something very different – targets of 10% improvement are just “normal business” in our view and not enough to help companies in this economic environment.

“The key is supporting the company to grow its own Lean culture,” he says. “The attitude of senior managers is vital to its success and their visible commitment to it inspires the rest of the staff.”

Peter admits staff can be wary about his work implying job losses, but says they shouldn’t be. “People don’t lose their job because of what we implement – all staff have a vital part to play in the programme,” he says. “The current economic situation is putting huge pressure on businesses, but if we help them reduce costs, improve flexibility and capacity, they stand a much better chance of beating their competitors and surviving the economic turmoil”.

Peter says the most challenging task Simply Lean has been set so far was to streamline processes within a kiwifruit packhouse and coolstore. “It was our first time working with horticulture, but we got outstanding results and now work with seven kiwifruit operations.”

Simply Lean has re-shaped processes within very diverse business sectors. “Applying Lean Thinking principles works wherever there are processes, no matter what the business does,” Peter says.

ENDS

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