Loewen transformed the Operations part of the business, similar to the strategy most manufacturing organizations take to start their lean journey.  In 2019, Loewen started the lean transformation in the Administrative area.  As a natural progression, the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee was initiated in 2021 to formalize the transformation process. 

Global implementation

Join us for an insightful presentation on how RIMEX Supply has successfully navigated the journey of integrating Lean methodologies into its operational culture. This session will explore the strategic implementation of Lean principles, focusing on standardization, waste reduction, and continuous improvement. 

Navigate the marketing hype - ensure that your IT strategy and systems are achieving your business goals.

Many, if not most LEAN initiatives will involve some form of improved method of managing information, which most often involves some form of technology generally referred to as IT.  IT is a trillion-dollar, fast-moving industry where every vendor confidently assures you that their solution will be the silver bullet.  This provides business leaders with the daunting challenge of how to best leverage available technology to their advantage, ensuring their business is neither limited nor exploited by technology solutions. 

How to take lean practices from a distribution company and apply them into manufacturing

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.

Fostering a Culture of Excellence is a Bumpy Ride

After 20 years of practicing Lean, Argus continues to learn how to develop and support problem solvers to help us navigate towards our True North of Enterprise Excellence. Perhaps our greatest lessons learned are those around fostering a culture to support a sustainable lean journey.

In this presentation, the audience will gain insights to guide strategies and tactics around the importance of developing people to understand lean thinking, not just lean practice. Argus’s lean journey began in 2005 with what now can best be described as an “industrial engineering” approach to lean, otherwise known as a focus on the tools.

What was previously a “factory floor” only focus, has now grown to include everyone touching our value streams, meaning, every team member from rack-hand to CEO. We are seeing business success by developing a customer centric mindset through process ownership supported by lean thinking and practice.

Foundational to this lean reset is understanding and living daily into our shared values: YOU MATTER because you are part of ONE TEAM, we OWN IT because we share a PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE

Rating: Intermediate

There is data all around you... and now you can use it!

Robots, PLCs, Tablets, Computers.... there are devices all around your factory that have a story to tell; you just need to know what tools are available to help you listen. In this presentation, you will hear about how a SCADA system was brought into a factory to monitor a few custom machines and it was so flexible and easy to use that it became so much more. Learn what SCADA systems are, various case examples, and a few tips on how YOU can get started at your own business

Lean Outside: Thriving Without Control

Discover how to apply Lean principles beyond manufacturing in one of the toughest environments: Landscaping. From - 10°C to +35°C, we operate outdoors year-round, overcoming extreme conditions while growing our people and implementing Lean strategies—without breaking the bank. This speech uncovers the hard lessons and mistakes I made over our 7-year Lean journey, so you don’t have to repeat them. Learn how to supercharge your continuous improvement efforts, even when faced with staffing and work shortages, retention challenges, and the unpredictability of outdoor environments.

Rating: Intermediate

Navigating Lean Strategies for Growth Success 

In this engaging session, we will explore how Decor Cabinets has leveraged Lean principles to achieve remarkable growth and operational excellence. ⁤⁤Understanding how to drive growth through Lean strategies is crucial for sustained success. ⁤

Technology as a Lean Enabler

Join us for an insightful presentation on how technology is being used as an enabler to support innovation and deliver tangible value for customers. Hear how two public sector organizations have built on their strong Lean foundation to embrace innovation and leverage cutting-edge technology to take continuous improvement to the next level. With continuing pressure to ensure value for taxpayers' dollars, the City of Kawartha Lakes and the London District Catholic School Board have both invested in technology to support the standardization of business process mapping in a central repository, resulting in an increased focus on value to the customer and overall efficiency. Learn how they are meeting the growing expectations for enhanced services by easily quantifying process improvements while enhancing employee engagement

Rating: Intermediate

How accelerated Kaizen growth became too fast-paced for the organization

This hands-on session will gamify learning that fosters creativity and builds camaraderie to jumpstart Kaizen energy. Follow along our journey as we discuss the successes and failures of rebuilding continuous improvement, establishing a Kaizen culture and launching internal project-based Six Sigma training within a heavily siloed organization.

Rating: Intermediate