Lean Business Ireland

Midland Lean Network Site Visit to Athlone Mail Centre
2026-03-25 18:30 - 21:30 (Europe/Dublin) | Athlone Mail Centre, Athlone Mail Centre, Athlone Business Park, Athlone, Westmeath, N37 FF68
Join the Midlands Lean Network for a site visit to Athlone Mail Centre, where participants will have the opportunity to see Lean, operational management, and continuous improvement in action within a live operational environment.
This visit will include an overview of the Athlone Mail Centre’s Lean journey, observation of daily management routines, insights into the An Post Six Sigma programme, and a guided operational floor visit to follow mail and parcel flow and view improvements on site.
Please note, this is an expression of interest only. Places are limited, and submission of interest does not guarantee a place.
Important Booking Information

This is an expression of interest only
Places are strictly limited to 8 to 10 participants
Attendees will be notified one week before the event if their place has been confirmed
Safety boots and high-visibility clothing are required for this visit

Who Should Attend
This event is suitable for business owners, managers, operational leaders, and anyone with an interest in Lean, continuous improvement, and seeing operational excellence in practice.
Agenda
6:30pm – Meet in Reception, refreshments on arrival
6:45pm – Welcome from Plant Manager, Andrew Naughton
7:00pm – Daily Operations pre-shift meeting, Managers Room
7:15pm – Observe Daily Huddle
7:25pm – History of the An Post Six Sigma Programme, Brian Clancy, Business Process Improvement Manager
7:45pm – AMC Lean improvements and culture changes, Eddie McCormack, AMC Lean Coordinator
8:15pm – Operational Floor Visit, follow mail and parcel flow and view improvements
9:00pm – Q&A session in conference room
9:30pm – Conclude visit

As this is a live operational environment, participants must wear appropriate PPE. Safety boots and high-visibility clothing are mandatory.

Expression of Interest
To register your interest, complete the booking form today HERE. Successful applicants will receive confirmation of their place approximately one week before the visit.

Dublin Lean Network - Lean Engagement/Lean Leadership Masterclass
2026-03-12 09:00 - 16:00 | IDA Offices, Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, D02 Fx65
Dublin Lean Network are delighted to offer our first in-person masterclass, delivered by Noel Hennessy at the IDA offices in Dublin.
Places are limited so early booking is advised.
“Noel is distinctive amongst Lean practitioners in that, along with his applied knowledge and many years of practical application of Lean principles, systems, and tools, he understands at a deeper level, via his Doctoral research, what makes some employees embrace the opportunities provided by Lean whilst others simply choose not to do so.”
– Darrin Taylor, SETU School of Business and Academy of Lean Enterprise Excellence
Booking Link Here
Meet the Trainer
Dr Noel Hennessey has over 30 years’ experience delivering operational excellence and engagement programmes in multi-national organisations. Prior to establishing his own consultancy https://lnkd.in/dmuUEddZ in 2018, Noel was the EU/Asia Enterprise Excellence Director for Lake Region Medical. During his tenure there, Noel led the company to achieve the highly prestigious Shingo Accreditation in 2012. He received his MSc in Lean Operations from Cardiff University, and in 2017 he completed his DBA at Waterford Institute of Technology (now SETU) which explored the relationship between CI and Employee Engagement. He is a regular speaker at national and global conferences on the subject of Lean & Employee Engagement.
Noel published the Human Lean book with his co-author John Bicheno, which has won both Shingo and Lean Business Ireland Publication Awards. In October 2023 Noel was inducted into the Shingo Academy Hall of Fame for his contribution to organisational excellence across Ireland and further afield.

Dublin Lean Network – Knowledge Sharing Session
2026-02-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Online – Webinar
Could you apply Lean Thinking to your personal wellbeing?
Speaker: Ciaran Heffernan (Tirlan)
Date: Friday 27 February 2026
Time: 13:00–14:00 (online)
This session looks at reframing health as a challenge that can be owned
This event is free to attend.
You must first register with the Dublin Lean Network, Register Here to register and we will email you event details.

Southwest Lean Forum - Lunchtime Bites session
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Online – Webinar
Upcoming Lean Lunch & Learn – Lunchtime Bites Series
Southwest Lean Forum, in collaboration with Local Enterprise Office Cork City, is delighted to host our next Lunchtime Bites session.
Date: 24th February
Time: 13:00
Location: Virtual session
Join us as Phil Cone, Owner of Academy Crests — Cork’s largest embroidery and printing company — shares insights from the company’s Lean transformation journey. Phil will discuss practical lessons, challenges, and the impact Lean has had on growing and scaling the business.
Register here
Learn more about Academy Crests

Dublin Lean Network - Applying Lean Thinking Beyond Manufacturing
2026-01-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Webinar
After a thought-provoking presentation at the Gemba Summit, Diana Byrne has kindly agreed to share her experience with the network.
She specialises in applying Lean Thinking to marketing and knowledge work, helping teams identify waste, improve flow, and reclaim significant time without increasing workload.
We suspect that this may be a good use of your lunch hour!
Register with the Dublin Lean Network to attend.

Dublin Lean Network – What is OEE?
2025-12-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Online – Webinar
Are you tracking OEE… or just guessing?
For many manufacturers, OEE feels complicated — but it doesn’t have to be.
Next Tuesday, we’re running a lunchtime session that breaks it down in a practical, real-world way. If you want to improve performance, reduce downtime, and get your teams genuinely engaged in continuous improvement, this one is worth an hour of your day.
What you’ll hear on the day:
– Sam Jones (Evocon) – How digital OEE tracking gives a true picture of factory performance
– Dave Scanlan (W. Howard) – How they measure the six big losses and what the data actually tells them
– Mick Lyons (Barclay Chemicals) – Moving from manual tracking to a fully automated OEE system
When: Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Time: 1:00–2:00pm
Free for all Dublin Lean Network members
If you’re a manufacturing company trying to get more from your processes — or just want to see what ‘good’ looks like — join us.
Register here: https://lnkd.in/eyvYJcum

North East Lean Network – Mullan Lighting – Best Practice Visit
2025-12-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Mullan Lighting, Emyvale, Monaghan, H18 EC98
The North East Lean Network is delighted that one of our regions renowned companies – Mullan Lighting are pleased to host this visit on the 4th of December

South East Lean Summit 2025
2025-11-26 08:30 - 16:30 | SETU Arena Waterford
Join us for the Annual South East Lean Network Lean Summit 2025, co-hosted by SETU Li4 and Academy of Lean Enterprise Excellence.
This event offers a full day of insightful talks, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. With critical contributions from cross-sectoral industry practitioners, academics, and trainers, we will together explore the dynamic and integrated relationships between People, Process, and Technology, with a focus on process optimisation, digital transformation, and practical tools to support your Lean and Digital journey.
Whether you’re new to Lean or an experienced practitioner, there’s something for everyone at the 2025 SELS.
Agenda
08:30 – 09:15 – Registration & Meet’n’Greet
09:15 – 09:30 – Welcome & Summit Opening: Darrin Taylor (South East Technological University)
9:30 – 10:15 – Keynote Speaker: Professor Daryl Powell (University of South-Eastern Norway)
10:15 – 10:30 – Break/Transition
10:30 – 12:30 – Morning Sessions (Choose One):

Main Stage – People, Process, Technology: Presentations by various industry practitioners
Workshop 1 – Data-Driven Process Optimisation: Analytics, Simulations & KPIs in Continuous Improvement
Workshop 2 – Lean AI Lab: AI for Lean Practitioners
Workshop 3 – Lean Starter Lab: Core Methods for Productivity

12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch & Networking
13:30 – 15:30 – Afternoon Sessions (Workshops Repeated – Choose a Different One if Desired):

Main Stage – People, Process, Technology: Presentations by Professor Peter Hines and various industry practitioners
Workshop 1 – Data-Driven Process Optimisation: Analytics & KPIs in Continuous Improvement
Workshop 2 – Lean AI Lab: AI for Lean Practitioners
Workshop 3 – Lean Starter Lab: Core Methods for Productivity

15:30 – 15:45 – Break/Transition
15:45 – 16:30 – Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks
Note: Main Stage sessions feature different speakers in the morning and afternoon. Workshops are repeated to allow attendees to participate in more than one.

Southwest Lean Forum - Site Visit with Pipelife Ireland Solutions
2025-11-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Pipelife Ireland Solutions Limited, Castleview, Little Island, Cork, T45 TX05
Site Visit with Pipelife
Join us for an exciting Site Visit at Pipelife Ireland Solutions Limited! Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our operations and learn about our cutting-edge technologies. This in-person event is a great opportunity to network with industry professionals and gain valuable insights into the world of piping solutions. Don’t miss out on this unique experience!

FOCUS ON LEAN – Live Problem-Solving with Lean Thinking
2025-11-19 13:30 - 16:30 | MERITS, Naas, County Kildare, Naas, W91 FE8V, Ireland
In collaboration with the Midlands Lean Network, join us for an interactive, hands-on event designed to showcase practical approaches to problem-solving using Lean methodologies.
Solutions in Action brings together business leaders and practitioners to collaboratively tackle real-world challenges in a dynamic, facilitated environment.
During the session, our expert team will guide participants through three live problem-solving workshops, using challenges submitted by attendees!
Each session will demonstrate how to apply Lean tools effectively—from root cause analysis to structured improvement techniques—offering actionable insights and fostering peer learning.
Whether you’re looking to overcome operational bottlenecks, improve processes, or simply sharpen your problem-solving skills, this event offers a unique opportunity to see Lean thinking in action.
Who Should Attend

Business owners and managers seeking practical solutions to operational challenges
Team leaders and project managers interested in Lean problem-solving techniques
Professionals involved in process improvement, innovation, or continuous improvement
Anyone facing a specific business challenge and looking for structured, expert-led support

Booking essential.
This event is being provided free of charge to our clients.
Please only book if you intend to attend.
This supports our team to correctly prepare for the event and that those that want to attend get the opportunity to do so. Thank you for your cooperation.

GDPR NOTICE: Photo and video content will be taken at this event for social media, reporting and promotion of future events. Please advise a member of the LEO team prior to the event, if you wish to be not recognisable in that content.

LBI Excellence Awards 2025
2025-10-23 17:30 | Johnstown Estate Hotel, Meath, A83V070, Ireland
The Annual LBI Awards Ceremony takes place in Johnstown Estate, Co. Meath on the 23rd of October 2025

Ireland is viewed at home and abroad as a global exemplar in Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Organisational, Operational, and Enterprise Excellence.
The Annual LBI Awards Ceremony brings together the all-island Lean ecosystem and community of learning and practice to recognise and celebrate excellence across public and private organisations of all scales and sizes, and from across all sectors.
The Annual LBI Awards Ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to socialise and network with fellow Lean and Continuous Improvement colleagues from all around Ireland. The LBI Awards are open to entries from organisations that can demonstrate the effective implementation of Lean thinking and practices in their organisational, operational, and enterprise excellence journeys.
There is no charge to submit entries for the LBI Awards, and organisations can enter up to three categories.
The deadline for entries is the 23rd of August 2025, so please do not delay in submitting your entries.
The LBI Steering Committee wishes all entrants the best of luck, and we look forward to meeting you at the Annual LBI Awards Ceremony in Johnstown Estate, Co. Meath on the 23rd of October 2025.

Gemba Summit 2025
2025-10-20 08:00 - 2025-10-21 17:00 | Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Wy, Belfast, BT3 9EP, Ireland
Built for the people who live and lead at the Gemba – the place where real work happens. This event is all about practical, hands-on improvement in manufacturing and operations.
You’ll hear from seasoned leaders and frontline experts who’ve successfully cut waste, improved processes, and built strong Lean cultures that last.
Whether you’re on the shop floor, in operations, or guiding continuous improvement, Gemba Summit gives you the tools, insights, and inspiration to make real change – every day.
With impactful keynotes, interactive workshops, and real-world case studies, this is where Lean thinking turns into Lean doing.

The South West Lean Forum presents: Lunchtime Bites: Leadership and Culture hosted by Aidan Magner
2025-09-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Online – Webinar
The South West Lean Forum presents a Lunchtime Bites session on Leadership and Culture with Aidan Magner, Head of Supply Chain and Process Excellence, 3SIXTY.
Join us for this online event exploring the intersection of leadership and culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your knowledge.
Date: Wednesday September 17th 2025 Time: 1pm to 1.45pm
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams. Click here to register.

Dublin Lean Network - Experience Lean In Action
2025-09-03 08:00 - 11:30 | applied concepts, Roscrea Road, Birr, R42 XW08, Ireland
See Lean In Action – Applied Concepts, Birr, Co. Offaly

Mid-West Lean Workshop and Site Tour at Britvic Ireland, Newcastle West site
2025-08-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Britvic Ireland Ballygowan, Newcastle West, V42 D452
Please note that this event has been moved from the 21st of August to the 28th of August.
Mid-West Lean Network in conjunction with Britvic Ireland are delighted to invite you to a unique opportunity to explore Britvic Ireland’s lean journey—past, present, and future.
Workshop Highlights:

A deep dive into our lean transformation to date

Insights into the future of lean at Britvic Ireland

Q&A and networking opportunities

Optional Site Tour: Subject to group size and participant eligibility (please note: due to competitive sensitivities, site tours are not available to attendees from companies in the same industry).
Duration: 2 hours total — designed to deliver maximum value within your busy schedule.
About Britvic Ireland
Britvic Ireland, part of the Carlsberg Group, is a leading soft drinks manufacturer with a proud heritage spanning over 240 years. With operations across the island and over 400 employees, we produce and market some of Ireland’s most iconic brands including Ballygowan, MiWadi, Club, Cidona, and TK, as well as globally recognised names like Robinsons, Fruit Shoot, and Pepsi (under licence).
Our Kylemore Road facility in Ballyfermot has been at the heart of Irish soft drinks production for 50 years, while our Newcastle West site has proudly bottled Ballygowan for over 35 years.
Spaces are limited to just 20 attendees, please book online to secure your place!
We look forward to welcoming you to Britvic Ireland and sharing our journey of continuous improvement.

DUBLIN LEAN NETWORK EVENT: KEVIN BRADY OF APPLIED CONCEPTS
2025-08-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Online – Webinar
For August 2025, Dublin Lean Network is delighted to welcome Kevin Brady of Applied Concepts Ltd. as our Guest Speaker.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, 7th August 2025 – Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online – REGISTER HERE
This event is designed to help organisations grow their people and teach them to see the 8 Wastes, ensuring long-term efficiency and success. You will learn:
?? How to identify and eliminate waste in your processes
?? The importance of “going slow to go fast”
?? Practical Lean tools that empower employees and foster improvement
About Kevin Brady:
Kevin Brady is Production/Design/Process Engineer at Applied Concepts. He is an experienced Design Engineer with a passion for Lean Thinking and Continuous Improvement. His company, Applied Concepts, is a manufacturer and supplier of Sand Blasting Equipment located in Roscrea Road, Birr, Co. Offaly.

Toyota 1.5 Day Lean Management Workshop – Engine Plant 26th & 27th March 2024
2024-03-26 08:00 - 2024-03-27 17:00 | Toyota Lean Management Centre UK, Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales, United Kingdom
Enterprise Ireland will be facilitating a group training visit with their clients to the Toyota Engine Manufacturing Plant in Deeside , North Wales.
The next Visit will run from the 26th to 27th March 2024
Delegates will, through the use of simulation techniques, extensive worksite study and classroom presentation, grasp the meaning of key elements of TPS and gain appreciation of its practical application. They will understand the culture and performance management tools that exist in order to ensure TPS can be sustained and provide the highest levels of operational performance.
Delegates will also understand the process steps for implementation and their role in leading a Lean Transformation
The participation fee is €1,000 plus 23% VAT per delegate, and includes the following:

Enterprise Ireland will facilitate the group visit & transfers to and from the airport, plant and nominated hotel.
Attendance at Toyota 1.5 Day Lean Management Workshop.

Flights and Hotel accommodation and any other on the ground expenditure is not included in the fee and is the responsibility of each delegate. Enterprise Ireland will advise which flights and hotels to book upon confirmation of registration.

Registration and Payment
Early registration is advisable as we are limited to max 18 delegates per trip. Places are in high demand and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Click here to register

Your participation will be confirmed on receipt of the full payment of €1000+Vat per delegate.
Payment is by credit card at the end of the online registration.

If you experience any problems with the payment process, please call 01-7272000 and ask for Accounts Receivable. Please note a full VAT invoice will be issued within the 15th day of the month following the fee payment date. The invoice will be marked as paid.

Webinar - Use Cases where Automation & AI improve Lab Performance via Planning & Scheduling
2023-12-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Online – Webinar
Established in 2011, Bluecrux is a leading consultancy and technology firm specialising in value chain optimisation. Their team of experts, combined with their cutting-edge software, empowers businesses to elevate their supply chains into intelligent, streamlined, and fully integrated value chains.
They firmly believe that genuine collaboration is the catalyst for innovation, bringing together their expertise and their clients’ aspirations.
Andreas Mayorga Paredes has a background in analytical labs and quality business within the life sciences industry. Over the last number of years, he have been working on the optimisation of laboratory operations through digital planning and resource management.
As part of the Bluecrux team, his focus lies on their cutting-edge technology solution called Binocs. Binocs stands as the top-ranked SaaS solution for efficiently scheduling and planning critical operations such as QC, QA, R&D, and CGT. With its AI-powered capabilities, Binocs offers automatic scheduling, scenario-based planning, and comprehensive end-to-end visibility.

Members of the Dublin Lean Network will receive details about this event but if you are not a member and would like to attend please register HERE

Lean Made Simple Onsite Tour for the Dublin Lean Network
2023-10-19 | Mayo
Our next event is an onsite visit to Seating Matters in Limavady, Northern Ireland. On 19th October next, Ryan Tierney is inviting members of the Dublin Lean Network for a visit to his company, Seating Matters.
Whether you want to learn more about Lean or take your Lean journey to the next level, this is the tour for you. Ryan and his team have welcomed thousands of guests who have had incredible success in implementing Lean in their own business.
During this tour, you will visit office and industrial divisions with a focus on ‘Learning to See Waste’ in every process, how the team recognises waste and eliminates it. This tour is for organisations at various stages of their Lean journey.
The cost of this tour is £275.00 + VAT. Numbers are limited to 15 so this will book out fast. To reserve a place, please email trishferguson@leanteams.com

Members of the Dublin Lean Network will receive details about this event but if you are not a member and would like to attend please register HERE

Lean Business Ireland Awards 2023
2023-10-12 | Croke Park Dublin, Ireland
The Annual Lean Business Ireland Awards Ceremony takes place in Croke Park on the 12th of October 2023

Lean Business Ireland (LBI) presents Ireland as a global exemplar in Organisational and Enterprise Excellence, and the LBI Awards Ceremony recognises and celebrates such achievements in excellence across various sectors.
The LBI Awards Ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to socialise and network with fellow Lean and Continuous Improvement colleagues from all around the country. The LBI Awards are open to entries from public and private organisations of all scales and sizes that can demonstrate the effective implementation of Lean thinking and practices in their organisational and enterprise excellence journeys.
There is no charge to submit entries for the LBI Awards, and organisations can enter up to three categories. The deadline for entries is the 18th of August 2023 so please do not delay in submitting your entry.
We wish all entrants the best of luck and we look forward to meeting you at the Annual LBI Awards Ceremony in Croke Park on the 12th of October 2023.
Please visit www.lbiawards.com to register your free entry.

Webinar - Lean in An Post
2023-10-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Online, - Webinar
Brian Clancy is the Business Process Improvement Manager for An Post Commerce.
He manages the Lean Six Sigma programme in the Mails Processing division. This programme covers 3 mail centre campuses (Dublin Portlaoise and Athlone).
Brian Joined An Post in 1986 and has worked in many areas of the business – Mails, Retail, Internal audit, Strategy and Quality. In 2013, he became a full time Business Process Improvement Manager joining the recently formed Lean Six Sigma team. He is a fully qualified Green and Black Belt. Brian currently manages the transition to a Lean culture in Mails Processing and supporting the development of a similar programme across mails delivery offices and Headquarter administrative departments.

Members of the Dublin Lean Network will receive details about this event but if you are not a member and would like to attend please register HERE

Dublin Lean Network to visit Alexion Pharmaceuticals
2023-09-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Alexion Dublin Manufacturing Facility Bóthar Bhaile Bhlainséir Thuaidh Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
On 21st September, Alexion Pharmaceuticals have invited members of the Dublin Lean Network to visit Alexion Pharmaceuticals.
Ciaran has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry in roles across Quality Control, Operations, Continuous Improvement and Learning and Development as is currently Innovation and Learning Lead in Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He holds BScs in Applied Biology and Technology Management from DIT and an MSc in Organizational Psychology from DCU.
About Alexion Pharmaceuticals
The mission of Alexion Pharmaceuticals is to improve the lives of people suffering from rare diseases and other debilitating conditions by developing and delivering novel medicines, as well as supportive technology and healthcare services.
Their culture is founded on integrity, inclusion, and a commitment to participating in and supporting the communities in which they live and work. They value and invest in people who believe in the importance of their mission and understand what it takes to achieve it.
Alexion has over 3,000 brilliant professionals dedicated to assisting people living with rare diseases in more than 50 countries across the world. Their global headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts, while their European and Middle Eastern headquarters are in Zürich, Switzerland. In addition, they have a Research Centre of Excellence in New Haven, Connecticut, a global supply chain and operations headquarters in Ireland, and local and regional operations in nations all over the world.

Members of the Dublin Lean Network will receive details about this event but if you are not a member and would like to attend please register HERE

South West Lean Forum Networking Event
2023-07-20 11:00 - 14:00 | IRD Duhallow, IRD Duhallow, Newmarket, Newmarket, Cork, P51 C5YF, Ireland
The South West Lean Forum is delighted to announce a unique event this July at IRD Duhallow. We will be joined by Noel Hennessy (Former CI Director Lake Region Medical) who will share with us the journey he and the team went on to achieve the first Shingo accreditation in Ireland over 10 years ago.
Ireland is now the highest per-capita Shingo winning location in the world. In October this year Ireland will be hosting the European Shingo Conference so this is a unique opportunity to gain insight as to what a Shingo Journey looks like.
This event is for anyone based in the region and beyond with an interest in Lean/Continuous Improvement, Enterprise Excellence and the Shingo model. You and your team should not miss out on this free event.
Our venue is situated in North West Cork outside the town of Newmarket which is only a few KMs from the Co Kerry and Co. Limerick county bounds.
We at the South West Lean Forum extend an invite to any business interested in the what Shingo is all about and how your journey with Lean and Continuous Improvement can be started, re-set, or nurtured to something that sets Ireland Inc apart globally.
Noel will be joined in conversation by Rob Brosnan, Chair, South West Lean Forum, (Formerly GE Healthcare & Founder of Lean Kaizen Consulting) and Conor Dawson (Senior Consultant- S A Partners)
This event is kindly sponsored by SA Partners & The ICBE
Noel Hennessy – Biography
Prior to establishing Practical Lean Solutions www.practicalleansolutions.com in 2018 Noel was the EU / Asia Enterprise Excellence Director for Lake Region Medical (Now Integer). During his tenure the New Ross site achieved the Shingo Bronze Medallion and Irish Medical Technology Company of the Year in recognition of their Operational Excellence Program. Noel’s search for best practice has seen him participate in global benchmarking visits to Europe, the US, India, and Japan. He was awarded his MSc in Lean Operations from Cardiff University in 2007 and his Doctorate in Business Administration from WIT (now South East Technological University) in 2017 in which his doctoral thesis explored the relationship between Employee Engagement and Continuous Improvement.
Noel is also an examiner for the Shingo Institute and regularly participates in assessing sites around the world. His search for best practice has seen him participate in global benchmarking visits to Europe, the US, India, and Japan. He is a very passionate advocate of the transformational power of Lean and the Shingo Model in particular, as he feels this places the emphasis on the behaviours and systems required for sustainable transformation. Noel also provides support to clients of SA Partners (Europe’s largest Shingo Affiliate) who are interested in adopting the Shingo Prize Model.
In November 2021 Noel co-authoring Human Lean with Prof. John Bicheno which makes the case that while 21st century employees demand greater participation and better leadership, they also bring along vast opportunities for betterment to their organisations, to society, and to the environment. Noel’s hope is that the book, which won the “Contribution to Knowledge” award at the 2022 Lean Business Ireland Conference, will assist organisations and leaders in applying lean as a means of getting the best, rather than the most from their employees.

Webinar - Simple approach to Lean
2023-06-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Mayo
Webinar – Simple approach to Lean
Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company that specialises in woodworking tools and hardware for professional builders. FastCap was founded in 1997, and since then, Paul’s intense curiosity on how things could be improved paved the way for him to become a prolific innovator, holding many US and international patents.
FastCap launches approximately 20-30 innovative products per year and has won the Business of the Year award twice. Paul’s first book, 2 Second Lean, is now available in 15 languages, and he has written several other books about Lean thinking.
Paul is an avid outdoorsman, a pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight time, and an energetic speaker who has worked with many notable organisations worldwide. Paul will give an online presentation on the simple approach to lean, sharing his insights on how to implement lean principles in business. His presentation will emphasise the power of innovation and the benefits of creating a lean culture, offering practical tips and strategies that anyone can use to improve their processes and achieve greater success.

Mid-West Lean Network Workshop: Visual Management
2023-06-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Gateway Hub, Shannon Airport House, Shannon Free Zone, Shannon, Co Clare, Ireland

Onsite Visit - NTMA
2023-06-19 | Mayo
Onsite Visit – NTMA

The agenda for this event is a presentation and Q&A followed by an overview of their offices ending with a VR demo in their “Connect Hub”.

Spaces for this event are limited to 15 people maximum.
Tara serves as the Head of the NTMA’s Continuous Improvement programme. In this role, Tara is responsible for leading a team promoting and embedding continuous improvement as a “Way of Working” across the NTMA, and its affiliate organisations, using Lean thinking for problem solving with teams.
Prior to joining the NTMA, he has worked in the High Technology and Aviation sectors holding senior roles in global supply chain operations, change management, quality system management and aerospace engineering operations.
Tara is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a Licensed Aircraft Engineer holding ICAO Type II ratings on a variety of both Boeing and Airbus aircraft types. An advocate of lifelong learning, he has most recently completed a Professional Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership with UCD. The National Treasury Management Agency provides a range of asset and liability management services to Government.
Borrowing on behalf of the government and management of the national debt are among the services provided by the State Claims Agency, NewERA, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, and the National Development Finance Agency.
It also assigns staff to the National Asset Management Agency, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, and Home Building Financing Ireland, as well as providing business and support services and systems.

Digitalisation and its impact on Operations and Supply Chains
2023-06-16 09:30 - 13:00 | ATU, Sligo Ash Lane F91 YW50 Sligo, ATU, Sligo, Sligo, F91 YW50, Ireland
The symposium is organised by the Postgraduate Research Training Programme in Operations and Supply ChAin Research (OSCAR) and West & North West Lean Network; and will take place on the ATU Sligo Campus on Friday, 16th June, from 9.30 am to 2pm. The event will have presentations from the current projects that are undertaken by the OSCAR researchers, as well as two outstanding industry speakers: Philip Rossiter (Operational Excellence Manager, Coca Cola) and John Roulstone (Operations Manager, Kirchhoff Ireland Ltd.). Other topics on the day will include sustainability, circular economy, industry 4.0, global supply chains and service innovations.
Schedule:
9.30 – 10.00 Registration (Tea/Coffee) – Main Entrance; then A0006 Lecturer Hall
10.00 – 10.10 Opening address: Dr. Chris O’Malley, Vice President for Regional Development & Engagement, ATU Sligo
10.10 – 10.40 “Our digital transformation and I4.0 journey”, Philip Rossiter (Operational Excellence Manager, Coca Cola)
10.40 – 11.10 Session 1 – Research Presentations
11.10 – 11.40 “The Integration of Data Visualisations into a Lean Production System”, John Roulstone (Operations Manager, Kirchhoff Ireland Ltd.)
11.40 – 12.10 Session 2 – Research Presentations
12.10 – 12.30 Panel discussion: Digitalisations Challenges
12.30 – 13.00 Poster Session
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch – Main canteen

Webinar - Going to the Gemba - Where the Real Work Happens
2023-06-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Mayo
Webinar – Going to the Gemba – Where the Real Work Happens

Gemba is a Japanese term that translates to the “real place” or where the work takes place. “Going to Gemba” is a philosophy that instructs management to spend time where real work occurs in order to build profound knowledge of the process.
Going to the Gemba involves taking a visit to the work area and looking at the work and talking to those closest to the work. Gemba walks are a series of structured, on-site interviews with representative process participants with the goal of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the process. Interviews focus on detail such as process time, wait time, defect rates, root causes and other information that can lead to targeted improvements.
In this session, we will give an overview of how to approach the Gemba Walk and hear from Master Lean Practitioners, Miriam Keogh of Dawn, Liam Farrell of Boliden (Tara Mines) and Billy Creavin of Alkermes on their practical experience of going to the Gemba, what the pitfalls are and how to avoid them.

The Midlands Lean Network strives to provide a regional forum and community for Lean & Operation Excellence best practices in the midlands. Regional networks are an integral part of the Lean Business Ireland Strategy.
We aim to build a community to bring together excellence in the region and to provide a forum to network, collaborate, and learn. The network and its events will be for organizations at all stages of their lean journey and of all sizes.
Membership of the network and attendance at events is open to all organizations of all sizes, no matter where you are on your Lean journey.
Network Activities

Site Visits
Seminars
Case Studies
Education, Training, Development
Peer Networking.

Conference - Enterprise Excellence 2023
2023-05-31 | SETU Arena Waterford
In its 7th year of providing the Irish business community with the opportunity to share, learn, and continuously improve, the Lean Business Ireland conference 2023 will return in person at the SETU Arena in Waterford.
The Lean Business Ireland Conference will once again bring together organisations from all over the world to explore the ideas and implementation of Lean Management in industries such as manufacturing, services, and construction.
This International event is primarily intended to foster engagement and networking within the Irish and International Lean Management communities. In addition, it will encourage open discussion among businesses at various stages of their Lean journey, while showcasing Ireland’s excellence on the international stage.
The Dublin Lean Network will be there to talk to you about Lean in Dublin and Ireland.
– Share your own Lean journey.
– Connect with Lean professionals and practitioners specialising in Continuous Improvement.
– Establish new connections within the Lean Community in Dublin and Ireland.
– Learn how companies have successfully implemented Continuous Improvement programmes. Register for this event https://eeireland.com/lbi-registration/

Lean Business Ireland Annual Conference 2023
2023-05-31 | SETU Arena Waterford
