Future proofing a business through Lean the focus of Shannon Chamber’s Mid-West Lean Network Conference

With the global economic environment posing challenges for companies in the domestic and export markets, Shannon Chamber has been busy assembling a panel of impressive speakers to demonstrate how companies can future-proof their businesses through using lean principles.

 

With preparations well advanced for the Chamber’s Mid-West Lean Network conference, Shannon Chamber chief executive Helen Downes is looking forward to welcoming attendees to the Analog Devices Building at the University of Limerick on Wednesday, 9 November and to the five presenters on the day sharing their accumulated knowledge and wisdom.

 

“We have an impressive line-up of speakers this year. They come from diverse sectors, which will ensure that everyone in the audience can get takeaways relevant to their industry,” said Ms Downes.

“Mike Morrissey, technology manager with Analog Devices will base his presentation on Co-Creation, accelerating product and technology development; Suzanne Fehily, global quality and continuous improvement manager with AMCS will speak about the whys and the hows of digital transformation; Frank Keane, CEO of Vitalograph Group will advise on the innovative, competitive, and sustainability benefits of reshoring whilst Mary Lynch, HR manager with Element Six will share her views and experiences of synchronising hybrid working within a culture of lean. The three themes we have chosen this year – lean innovation, digitisation and supply chain were requested by members of the lean network,” Ms Downes added.

The conference also includes an A3 Project Storyboards’ Street event, sponsored by LBS Partners, which is a very dynamic way of showing how companies are solving problems within their organisations.

The ‘Street Event’ will include displays of nine shortlisted A3 storyboards which have been submitted by:

  • Atlantic Aviation Group – Material returns to stock
  • Edwards Lifesciences – Output increase by 500% on Cleanroom Manufacturing Process
  • Edwards Lifesciences – Problems as Gifts – Using A3 approach during enforced downtime to transform process
  • Cook Medical – The Plastic Stents manufacturing business unit project
  • Analog Devices Limerick – Analog intends to half its carbon footprint by 2030 and has a carbon neutrality goal of zero by 2050
  • Berka Solutions Ltd. – Operational Excellence Program for SMEs
  • Zimmer Biomet Oranmore – PPK Rosler Risk Reduction
  • Zimmer Biomet Oranmore – G7 Hip Cup Anodising Process Capability Improvement – Using Lean methodology to reduce rework rate from the anodising process from 22% to 3% 
  • Zimmer Biomet – Rework for two tone and blotching on the anodised surface. 

Each project storyboard will outline the process the company used to attain a solution for their identified problem, with each milestone recorded and an overall quantifiable benefit derived. The storyboards will outline how the judging criteria – problem, process, milestone and benefit – were met. Conference attendees will select the winner via an online voting system in the auditorium.

Future of work expert and managing director of Futurewise (www.futurewise.ie) Peter Cosgrove will give the keynote address at the conference. An expert on future trends and a much sought-after speaker and adviser on the future of work, he will bring the latest insights and research from across the world of work, technology, diversity and talent to Limerick and the Mid-West region.

“Noted for speaking in an entertaining, exciting, and passionate manner and for delivering messages through memorable stories and experiences which leave the audience excited, inspired, and informed, Peter’s address will be an apt conclusion to what promises to be a very insightful day. His address will focus on the importance of people to an organisation, culture, creativity, and innovation. We look forward to returning to the Analog Devices Building at the University of Limerick on Wednesday, 9 November,” Ms Downes said.

The Mid-West Lean conference, which is sponsored by Fine Grain Property, supported by Shannon Chamber Skillnet and Wrxflo, and delivered in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, commences with registration and light refreshments at 7.30am and concludes at 16.00pm.