Simplify, Standardise, Sustain

This program is designed to help businesses move beyond short-term Lean initiatives and create a lasting culture of operational excellence. Through practical learning, peer collaboration, and leadership development, participants will gain the tools and mindset needed to drive continuous improvement and business transformation.

It is suited to businesses with an operational premises in Kildare who are ready to embrace change and commit to embedding continuous improvement into their culture and operations.

Program Goals

1. Develop a Lean mindset and embed continuous improvement practices as the foundation of business transformation.
2. Develop a Lean mindset and embed continuous improvement practices.
3. Build skills in Lean tools, digital transformation, and sustainability.
4. Enhance leadership capabilities for driving cultural and operational change.
5. Foster a peer support network for shared learning and accountability.
6. Create “visit-ready” businesses that demonstrate operational excellence in practice.

Key Components of the Program

1. Training Modules

Practical, interactive workshops designed to solve real-world business challenges, with hands-on activities, templates, and actionable takeaways. Includes 1-to-1 coaching and site audits.

2. Peer Group Support

• Cohort-Based Learning: Create groups of 8-10businesses to foster collaboration.
• Monthly Roundtables: Share progress, challenges, and ideas in facilitated sessions.
• Site Visits: Businesses host their peers to showcase improvements and gain feedback.

3. Coaching

• Group Coaching: Monthly sessions on shared challenges, moderated by experienced Lean practitioners.
• 1:1 Coaching: Personalized support for individual business challenges and transformation goals.
• Leadership Coaching: Focus on building resilience, clarity, and influence for business leaders.

4. Tools & Templates

Participants will receive tools and template to support their “Site Visit Ready ” journey including: Morning meeting agenda templates, A3 problem-solving sheets, KPI dashboard examples, Digital transformation checklists and sustainability toolkits.

5. Outcomes-Based Approach

Each business will work towards clear, measurable goals, such as:

• Reducing lead times by 30%.
• Cutting down on waste or inefficiencies.
• Launching new digital tools to streamline operations.
• Implementing sustainability initiatives, such as reducing energy or material waste.

Group Training Overview

Session 1: Lean Mindset Reset

• Revisit Lean principles & why efforts may not have stuck.
• Embed culture of continuous improvement.
• Morning meetings as a foundation for alignment.
• The SSS Plan – barriers, obstacles, and ladders.
• Daily Morning Meetings: structure, wins, metrics, and roadblocks.
• The Psychology of Sort.

Session 2: Simplify & Standardize (5S)

• 5S & Visual Management Mastery: organised workspaces, spotting inefficiencies, hands-on practice.
• Homework: SORT plan & activity.
• Individual site visit – first 3S assessment & actions.

Session 3: Standard Work

• Process Mapping: identify value vs. waste.
• Standard Work & Leader Standard Work: consistency and accountability.
• Homework: Process maps, SW & LSW drafts.

Session 4: Sustain

• Developing as a Leader: communication, emotional intelligence, decision-making.
• Fostering psychological safety.
• Embedding Continuous Improvement: small, daily improvements.
• Intro to Define & Measure.
• Roundtrip Gemba planning.

Session 5: Problem Solving

• Root Cause Analysis: A3, Fishbone, 5 Whys.
• Real-world problem solving.
• Measuring Success: KPIs & dashboards.
• 1-to-1 coaching follow-up.

Session 6: Showcase & Future

• Digital Transformation: Digital Intensity Index, tools selection, roadmap.
• Sustainability: Lean + Green, circular economy, metrics.
• Leadership & Next Steps.
• Final Presentations by each business.

Program Benefits

• Sustainable Change: Focus on building systems and habits that last.
• Tailored Guidance: Coaching ensures solutions are customized to each business.
• Peer Learning: Collaboration across businesses accelerates innovation.
• Operational Excellence: Businesses will be ready to showcase their transformation