Lean Review - Page 1

students to actually gain a return on the investment made to register for the program itself.

Some of the improvements achieved by the first cohort of students bear testament to this, with savings of up to € 2.7 million initiated by one student through an assignment aimed at reducing levels of unnecessary inventory. Other improvements included a €36,000 saving in storage space; a 75% reduction in delivery errors; and a 21% increase in overall equipment effectiveness.

Twenty five students have recently completed a practical-based Lean educational program offered by the Leading Edge Group, University College Cork, and the Institute of Industrial Engineers. With a focus on workplace competence, the program has achieved some remarkable results.

February saw the successful completion of the first cohort of a Lean Green Belt Certificate offered by Leading Edge in conjunction with UCC as part of its Certificate/Diploma in Supply Chain Management. Accredited by the Irish Institute of Industrial Engineers, the part time program also awards successful students 15 academic credits, enabling them to progress to Diploma level.

The program is primarily designed for those working in industries who

wish to enhance their supply chain

management skills, particularly graduates with an engineering/technical background, as well as technicians and operatives. This mix was very evident in the Certificate class of 2006/07 with participants from organizations including Pfizer, EMC, Musgrave, John A Wood Ltd., PepsiCo, Novartis, Banta Global (RR Donnelly), Glaxo Smithkline, and DePuy.

Modules are available in on-line format and delivered over a six-day lecture/seminar series in UCC complemented by half-day review sessions delivered by international Lean Trainer - Joe O’Callaghan.

Assessment for the program is based on completion of a practical assignment that enables student to leverage the program to actually achieve improvements in

their own place of work. So, as well as demonstrating competence, it allows

Inaugural Lean Green Belt SCM Program a Huge Success

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Leading Edge Group receives 2007 Business of the Year Award

The Leading Edge Group received a prestigious accolade on Friday 27th of April when Joe Aherne CPA, Chief Executive of the company, was presented with the ConocoPhillips Business of the Year Award 2007 on behalf of Cobh and Harbour Chamber.

In presenting the award on behalf of ConocoPhillips, Don Hegarty spoke of the numerous accomplishments that the Leading Edge Group had achieved over the past 12 years and its continual growth in the areas of process improvement; supply chain management; and the

provision of Lean facilitation, education and training. In accepting the award, Joe Aherne thanked the Chamber and ConocoPhillips, and paid tribute to his team and his family, without whom, he said this success would not have been possible.

The keynote speaker at the event – former Taoiseach

Albert Reynolds – complimented the Leading Edge Group team on its successes in industry over the last number of years, and encouraged all in attendance to strive towards a more knowledge-based competitive business environment in Ireland. Minister for Trade and Commerce – Michael

Ahern T.D. – added his congratulations to the Leading Edge Group, and outlined his admiration for Joe Aherne and his team.