At Colloide, we have embarked on an exciting journey to integrate lean principles into our processes and culture. We have been inspired by the brilliant work of Seating Matters and Lean Made Simple, who are local to our Limavady Production Premises. As we start applying lean thinking to our operations, we are confident that this method will improve efficiency while promoting a culture of ongoing improvement and teamwork.  

This blog will serve as a hub for sharing updates on our lean progress, showcasing how these principles are transforming the way we work and deliver value.

What is Lean and What Does It Mean? 

A lean business operates on the principle of delivering maximum value to customers while reducing waste to a minimum. Although initially developed for manufacturing, lean principles are now widely applicable across industries. The core focus of lean is enhancing processes through the value stream, ensuring to add customer value and reduce inefficiencies. 

Lean Inspiration and Expert Guidance 

A heartfelt thank you to Geoff Crawford from Invest NI and John McLaughlin from Shop Floor Live, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in helping Colloide integrate lean principles into our processes. Their expert guidance has laid the foundation for a culture of continuous improvement within our organisation. Their insights have been invaluable in our lean journey. 

Our journey into lean has been profoundly influenced by Seating Matters, a manufacturing company based in Northern Ireland, and Lean Made Simple, founded by Seating Matters’ Ryan Tierney.

Seating Matters exemplifies lean principles through their ethos of continuous improvement and respect for individuals. Key practices include: 

• Leave It Better Than You Found It: Employees improve workspaces, tasks, and interactions for the next person in the process, fostering a culture of generosity and enhancement. 

• Kanban Inventory Systems: Critical items are managed using a two-bin system, ensuring uninterrupted workflow and optimal stock levels. 

• Employee Empowerment: Each employee acts as a process engineer, suggesting improvements and growing into leadership roles through structured systems.

Lean Made Simple complements this by providing practical tools and demystifying lean principles. Their accessible methods, such as the 3S framework (Sort, Sweep, Standardise) and innovative approaches to reducing waste, offer actionable insights for businesses adopting lean thinking. Subscribe to the great Lean Made Simple YouTube Channel below. 

Reflections from Colloide’s Lean Support Group

To help implement lean and support staff, Colloide selected a Continuous Improvement Engineer Brona, to work alongside Lean Support Coaches, Steven, Ian, Susan and Brian. The group will help steer and support staff on lean principles and improvements but will also have the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding by visiting other businesses hosting lean tours. Some of the team have already had the incredible opportunity to visit Seating Matters in Limavady. This was part of their Lean Made Simple tour. The insights gained from their streamlined processes and culture of continuous improvement were truly inspiring.

Ian described his main takeaways from the visit. There was an importance to get “buy in across every department plus an infectious enthusiasm where individuals suggest and make small improvements daily with the next internal customer in mind. The effective use of visual displays on the shop floor and in offices to reduce repeat who, what, where & when questions.”

Stephen also reflected on his visit to Seating Matters explaining, “Ian put it well, the energy that everyone had for their job and the enthusiasm for how lean benefits them and those down the line was huge. There did not seem to be clear levels of hierarchy; they were all together at the same level working toward a shared goal. Everyone was able to make and suggest improvements and mistakes aren’t seen as a negative, but a learning experience and an improvement opportunity. Also, everything was set up in a way for complete clarity, be that tools with defined locations or instructions set up clearly at each station, they removed any opportunity for confusion where possible”.