How to take lean practices from a distribution company and apply them into manufacturing
DESCRIPTION
How Lean aligns and impacts our company strategy: Improving our operational efficiency and providing more value for our customers has been a part of our strategic map for the past 10 years. We have applied lean tools and integrated them with other objectives in a detailed cause-effect matrix to have even more impact.
How lean encompasses some of our core values: WE are curious, WE are an army of problem solvers, WE are always learning and WE are winners all will be presented. Examples of how the cause and effect relationship between these and lean will be presented along with how they help us provide more value to our customers.
We will outline examples of areas where lean was successful but also where we have had challenges learned from them and created future opportunities.
WE will outline why we practice lean and describe how it all started for us.
WE will showcase HOW we educate our team members and provide real examples of them applying lean in their roles and what the results were.
WE will showcase 1 area of our business that is a shining example of using lean tools to create a culture that is conducive to value added processes thru waste elimination
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Canada’s largest independent supplier and distributor of gas products for commercial and healthcare use
Innovair Group’s commercial segment includes Innovair Industrial and Innovair Automation. Innovair Industrial helps businesses and organizations become more efficient through gas application solutions, gas delivery and fulfillment, as well as welding and cutting equipment and supplies. Innovair Automation is a pioneer of robotic solutions to streamline industrial processes and improve productivity.
Our healthcare solutions support the well-being of patients with respiratory disorders across Canada. Innovair Medical and Medigas Manitoba provide medical gas, equipment, therapies and supplies, as well as non-gas medical products and supplies for EMS, hospital and homecare use.
PRESENTERS
Neil Addison, CI Manager, Innovair Group
Neil Sensei Addison, hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba holds a Bachelor of Honors in Business Administration from the University of Manitoba and has applied his accounting expertise for 35 years at the Innovair Group of Companies, where he served as the Accounting Manager. In 2014, Innovair began its lean journey, and Neil was selected to join the team focused on enhancing operational excellence and continuous improvement. He completed his Lean Yellow and Green Belt training through Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Manitoba and earned his Black Belt from Lean Sensei Canada in 2018. This accomplishment led to his promotion in 2023 to Manager of Continuous Improvement. In this role, Neil is committed to advancing the Innovair Lean System, emphasizing the continuous improvement of processes and the development and growth of people.
Ed Boulanger, VP Industrial, Innovair Group
Ed Boulanger P.Eng. is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of extensive experience in the industrial and project delivery sectors, distinguished by a strategic approach to business development and operational excellence and lifelong commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Honors) from the University of Manitoba and was selected for the highly competitive Air Liquide International Executive Development Program at INSEAD in France, which cultivates future leaders within the organization. This accolade highlights his recognition as one of the top 30 high-potential managers among 35,000 global employees.
Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at the Innovair Group in Winnipeg, MB, Ed spearheads all operational and strategic initiatives across multiple industrial divisions, including Innovair Industrial and Innovair Automation. His tenure at Innovair has been marked by successful cultural transformation, advanced management program development, and significant contributions to strategic planning and business metric optimization.
Previous to Innovair, Ed held pivotal roles including Director of Facilities, Security, and Purchasing at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, where he was integral in operational planning and construction management of a landmark $380 million project. Ed's international experience is further demonstrated by his role as Organizational Development Specialist at Air Liquide Russia, where he was instrumental in analyzing market trends and deploying innovative technologies. His comprehensive career at Air Liquide also includes leadership positions such as Commercial Manager and Engineering and Maintenance Manager, where he oversaw significant business units and engineering operations.
His commitment to continuous professional development is underscored by his completion of numerous advanced training programs, including the Exponential Innovation Program at Singularity University, the Ivey Leadership Program at Western University, and the Balanced Scorecard Master Class.Ed's multifaceted expertise, strategic vision, and dedication to innovation position him as a transformative leader in the industrial, technology and project delivery sectors
