Lean For Micro

Local Enterprise Office Laois is pleased to announce a “Lean for Micro” support scheme for businesses in 2018

If you thought LEAN was a programme for large manufacturing type programmes only – THINK AGAIN! Traditionally Lean has been applied to large companies but a pilot of this programme we ran in 2015 illustrated the applicability and effectiveness of Lean to smaller companies.

What is Lean?

Lean is about being effective and efficient - doing things quicker, better, cheaper. Lean strives to stamp out waste and to continually improve.

Lean tools and techniques are helping companies across all sectors and all sections from e.g. production, business processes but also sales and financial analysis and strategy.

The techniques are used to address competitiveness issues within their businesses, building the capability of their people to identify issues and improve their operations. Lean is about being effective and efficient - doing things quicker, better, cheaper…together. Lean strives to stamp out waste and to continually improve.

Local Enterprise Office Laois recognises these very substantial improvements in productivity and profitability that can result from the application of lean principles and aims to support owner/managers in effectively embracing lean methodologies in their businesses.

A pilot carried out in 2015 by LEO’s which involved Laois LEO found that the projects undertaken by the twelve companies as part of the pilot all resulted in positive outcomes for the companies. Increase in Output/Capacity ranged from 10% to 100% while annual cost savings ranged from €8,600 to €151,000,100% capacity increase and some of the 12 businesses had Profits increased by 100k.

Forfas also carried out a study on SME’s and found those that implemented Lean also had positive results:

Productivity up 20%
Sales up 40%
Delivery adherence up 43%
Product & Service quality up 30%
Employment up 11%

Enterprise Ireland have published a useful guide on lean practices for businesses - Becoming A Lean Business

What are the Objectives?

Participants will have the knowledge and skills to enable them undertake small lean projects resulting in continuous cost reduction improvements in their businesses. The scheme will help to:

Identify issues and potential improvement areas
Provide support to implement
Achieve savings and improvements in capability and capacity to deliver

What’s involved?

The pilot programme involves an in-company assignment by an external ‘Lean’ consultant who will introduce Lean principles and complete a specific cost reduction project. Assignments will be carried out over a 6 to 8 week period and will include 5.5 consultancy days with in-company visits to each business scheduled depending on each situation. Consultants must be approved by the Enterprise Ireland Lean team.

After a suitable in-company project has been identified, a diagnosis of current practice and performance and key performance indicators will be established to achieve targeted business improvement measures based on a set of Lean tools and methodologies tailored to suit each client’s situation.

Who is it for?

It is aimed at owner / managers and key staff members of any Laois businesses who wish to gain an introduction to lean concepts and allow them to gain a practical understanding of lean principles by undertaking a focused assignment with expert mentoring support.

The scheme will be available to a limited number of Laois businesses in 2018.

Cost

What costs are involved?

The Lean for Micro Business Offering is very heavily subsidised, the cost of undertaking a Lean for Micro assignment is €5,000. The business must pay the first €250 and Laois Local Enterprise Office will provide grant funding for the outstanding costs to a maximum of €4,750.

Testimonials

The Scullery “Introducing Lean Manufacturing will give me the competitive edge I need to move forward to the next level of my business”

West Cork Vegetable Solutions “The course has made our organisation more profitable by reducing distribution costs, increasing production efficiency and personally showed me how to protect my profit margins

Savvy Kitchens“It is always worthwhile to take stock of your whole operation.The lean project allowed us to do this & indeed to improve in a lot of areas”.

To register your interest - Please fill out the attached application form and email it to sdoran_leo@laoiscoco.ie

Participating clients will be selected subject to eligibility as determined by Laois LEO and depending on the client’s existing capability in using Lean business principles, the current size, and their particular business development needs.

If you have any queries on the programme please contact me directly with any queries on sdoran_leo@laoiscoco.ie

Directory of Lean Service Providers

A directory of service providers interested in undertaking assignments under the Lean Business Offer is maintained by Enterprise Ireland. The directory holds a profile provided by each service provider on their expertise and experience with Lean projects. A company must select a service provider from this directory. Service providers can apply for consideration to be added to the directory. Inclusion in the directory will be based on their experience and expertise.

Please ensure you carefully read the Guidelines for Use of Directory prior to selecting from the list of service providers.

Enterprise Ireland does not give any warranty, either express or implied, as to the qualifications or suitability of any of the persons on the list of service providers and Enterprise Ireland will not be liable for any loss and/or damage caused by a company’s decision to retain the services of such a service provider.