News & Downloads

Greenyard Fresh UK awarded Lean Gold validation

Jeff Williams, Business Develpment Director, is pleased to announce that Greenyard Fresh UK has been awarded Lean Gold Validation which recognises the organisational transformation and continuous improvement in the Greenyard Fresh UK business through our Food & Drink sector work. Jeff Williams said of the award: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with […]

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Unison Case Study NZ
In 2017 Andy Knipe joined Unison as their Business Improvement Manager. This was a new role and one of his first challenges was to kick start a continuous improvement program based at the company’s HQ in Hastings. Two years on and S A Partners sit down with Andy and reflect on some of the successes, [...]
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Awards Galore for S A Partners Clients
S A Partners are extremely proud of our clients and colleagues, Abbvie, Roche and Rabobank on their success on winning awards at this years Lean Business Ireland Awards, and also Suir Engineering for being nominated for Starting the Journey Category - most progress made toward organisation efficiency. The ceremony was held at Croke park last [...]
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Panalpina Logistics Brazil Win Prestigious Shingo Award for Operational Excellence

S A Partners are pleased to congratulate Panalpina on their recent Shingo Award for Operational Excellence. This particular award goes to DSV Panalpina Logistics and Manufacturing facility in Sorocaba, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The facility topped the scores of the Shingo examiners who focus on the degree to which the Shingo Model are evident in the behaviour […]

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Product Development in Credit Insurance
This case study looks at Coface strategy, and how they wanted to grow its business volume. To do this they needed a faster and more robust New Product Development (NPD) process to support this planned growth as part of the long term strategy. It looks at the issues at hand, and what were the required [...]
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The Journey to Enterprise Excellence in a Multinational Banking Company

This banking institution embarked upon a focused continuous improvement programme aimed at working towards Enterprise Excellence. Having already been on a Lean journey, it was recognised that many of these elements were already in place, so the key focus of this programme would be to strengthen and develop the systems and behaviours across the business […]

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Bel UK and the BOOST Programme
Bel UK are over two years through their improvement journey with S A Partners, and have called this programme 'BOOST', and the intervention has been around Lean improvement and Strategy Deployment. In this video Michelle Bamford (Technical and Regulatory Manager at Fromageries Bel) and Esther Horsman (Head of Supply Chain at Fromageries Bel) briefly explains [...]
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World Wide Fruit Awarded M&S Gold
S A Partners congratulate Worldwide Fruit Ltd. on the award for ‘Gold’ recognition against Mark & Spencer Plan A Food Sustainability framework.. View the full video case study below explains their CI journey. Over the past 6 years, a team of 24 Yellow Belts, 21 Green Belts, 4 Black Belts and 1 Master Black Belt at [...]
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World Wide Fruit CI Case Study Video
Senior team members of World Wide Fruit talk you through their successful Continuous Improvement Journey. The team talk you through the practicalities of implementing CI from the early stages, and how the improvement has lead to significant improvement in their operations. If youd like to find out how S A Partners can help your business, [...]
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Enabling Site Wide Cultural Change

A European site of a Global Pharmaceutical blue-chip organisation wished to refocus its continuous improvement programmes to enable site wide cultural change. S A Partners assisted with a detailed analysis of current state at all levels of the organisation using a holistic Enterprise Excellence Benchmark Assessment Tool, and an implementation framework that used our Leadership Development […]

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Capability Development Programme

Having adopted a ‘Reliability Centered Maintenance’ strategy for operations management and assets, this utility company  realised that this limited ‘Lean’ improvement approach was not embedding across the whole organisation. They wanted a more holistic approach to culture change and integration. Capability Development Programme integrated with improvement projects: This case study looks at how an improvement […]

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Lean Certification Success at Dale Farm
Congratulations to the Dale Farm team on successfully achieving their LCS Level 1b and 1c accreditation.  Their projects presented by the team were excellent – delivering real performance improvements and increased customer value. The team were delighted to be presented with their certificates by Nick Whelan, CEO of Dale Farm (pictured centre). We wish them [...]
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Congratulations to Dwr Cymru – Voted Best Water Company in the UK
We would like to send our warmest congratulations to Dwr Cymru. The only not-for-profit utility provider in England and Wales, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has been recognised as ‘Most Recommended’ water company in the UK by Moneywise magazine. The company, which employs more than 3,000 people, was voted the Most Recommended by Moneywise readers. Welsh [...]
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The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017

The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017 Shortlist includes a number of our clients. We would like to congratulate all nominated companies and look forward to this prestigious awards event which our Head of Food & Drink – Jeff Williams, and Head of Retail & Distribution, Richard Lynch will attend in London on November 1st. For […]

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Celebrating Lean Training Success at Dwr Cymru
Dr Toni Whitehead and Simon Grogan, MD at S A Partners were invited to attend the recent ‘celebration of success’ event at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW). Congratulations to all those who graduated successfully from the Cardiff University Lean Competency System (LCS) Black & Green Belt level from the Welsh Water Lean Development Programme. The [...]
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Implementing a Successful Continuous Improvement Journey
Senior and Team Leaders of Musgrave Distribution Centre in Fonthill Ireland, look back at the past few years of their successful CI journey. They focus on health and safety, behaviours, purpose, standard work and leader standard work. The team talk you through the practicalities of implementing CI from the early stages, and how the culture [...]
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Cardiff University & Panalpina Included in the Industry Best Practice Report

We would like to congratulate Cardiff University and clients, Panalpina as they are included as an industry ’best practice’ in the National Centre for Universities and Business 2017 State of Relationship report about university and business. Our client, Panalpina, is one of the world’s leading providers of supply chain solutions.  Panalpina combines air freight and […]

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Lean Improvement at Cranswick Plc

Cranswick Plc is a multi award winning company which started back in the 1970’s from a group of farmers who were inspired by the simple idea – you get what you put in. Today, Cranswick are one of the largest food producers in Britain with around 5000 employees. Employee engagement is a fundamental element of […]

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Continuous Improvement at Suez
This is a short video highlighting the CI journey so far for the Suez Environmental company.
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Congratulations to our LCS Graduates
For the past 10 months, we have been working with the SUEZ recycling company across the UK and mainland Europe. Their teams have been working on a number of projects including the improvement of asset management (through application of workplace organisation and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) systems (Link to page)) and support services and business [...]
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Panalpina, a challenge to achieve operational excellence
Creating an Impact This programme has realised over CHF 6M in cost improvements from 2012-2016 (£4,751,937.72 at ex rate - 1 Swiss Franc  = 0.79 British Pound). The Lean journey started for the facility in 2013, and just one year after the programme started, the site was already showing signs of an improvement culture existent on the shop [...]
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What has lean done for you? Ben Evans SSE

This months podcast interview is with Ben Evans, who is the Process Improvement Manager at SSE plc (a utilities company based in Cardiff). Ben previously worked as a Lean Specialist and Programme Manager at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and prior to that worked for the Lloyds Banking Group. We Learn about his Lean Competency System […]

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Implementing a Lean Strategy for a Major Manufacturer
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. The client had a strong leadership vision and strategic plan for the development of the organisation which clearly identified the ambition to grow a continuous improvement and lean operating mentality across the organisation. Secondarily there was a requirement from one of the major customers [...]
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Creating a Lean Academy in Tier 1 International Defence Contractor(s)
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. Help was required to design the structure, develop relevant materials, deliver the training programmes, assess and certify successful candidates through a bespoke, integrated Lean Academy capability development programme  for over 800 personnel. Clients include multi-national Aerospace, Security & Defence Contractors, where each developed a strategy [...]
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Continuous Improvement at Cogent Inc., the Full Case Study
Cogent Power Inc, the Full CI Case Study This hour long video explores the Continuous Improvement journey started at Cogent more than 10 years ago and examines the different elements of the Lean Business Model, and how it was implemented in the organisation. It covers the following 1. Ron Harper, CEO of Cogent Power - Discusses strategy [...]
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Congratulations to Panalpina on Winning the Innovation & Impact Awards

S A Partners have very close ties with both Cardiff University and Panalpina and a number of us are Cardiff University Alumni members. We are therefore delighted to congratulate Panalpina on their recent double success at the Cardiff University Innovation & Impact Awards. We would like to especially mention Andy Lahy – Global Head of […]

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Intercast & Forge Case Study
Intercast & Forge are Australia’s largest iron casting foundry and creates customer specific solutions for manufacturing cast parts. Their technical and metallurgy experts ensures their solution contributes to all areas of their clients operation. Since 1854, to the present day, Intercast & Forge has continually made improvements to become the world’s leader in applying innovation and technology [...]
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What has lean done for you? Phil Shelley, Becketts Foods

In this new monthly feature we interview a Lean advocate who has travelled along a personal Lean learning journey. It covers when they first learned about Lean Thinking, what happened next and how their career has changed. In this month’s edition we focus upon Phil Shelley, Lean Enterprise Director, Becketts Foods, ‘Meat & Poultry Manufacturer of […]

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Vimto Lean Business Improvement & Transformation
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. Nichols plc is an international soft drinks business with sales in over 85 countries, selling products in both the still and carbonate categories. The diversification of the business is a major contributor to their consistent growth. Brands such as Vimto benefit from three distinct [...]
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Design & Development of a Lean Horticulture Toolkit
This is a case study of the development of a Lean Toolkit for the Horticulture Wales Project, Supply Chain Efficiency Scheme, part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales. The S A Partners team of Dr Toni Whitehead, Dr Donna Samuel and Andy Brunskill  drew up the toolkit which introduced the fundamental principles of lean production. [...]
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Benefits of the Lean and Sustainable Consortium
Members of The Lean and Sustainable Consortium attended The Boardroom in the Home House Hotel, London, to discuss Lean and Sustainable strategies. Previously they attended the award winning organisation Vaillant for a practical exploration of current Lean practices. Proprietors and directors of companies from all around the world talk you through how the consortium has [...]
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Toll Group, a retail Case Study
In this video, Staff at the Toll Group explain what working life is like now Lean has been implemented in the orgainsation
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Creating an Enterprise Excellence Control Room for Auckland Leisure
When our Continuous Improvement programme at Auckland Leisure was rolled out to 22 leisure facilities we felt that we needed something to help us to monitor our progress and the ROI on all these activities. Our somewhat creative and slightly crazy solution was to commandeer an unused squash court at Alan Brewster Leisure Centre, and [...]
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Safmarine Workshop Outputs
Staff at Safmarine chat through the outputs delivered from the in-house lean workshop
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Cogent Power Inc, a Journey to Perfection
Ron Harper, President of Cogent Power Inc talks about his company's 10 year lean journey with S A Partners
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Dwr Cymru start their Lean role out

Dwr Cymru see their Lean programme as critical for them to meet the challenges ahead for the organisation and their customers. By creating a culture of continuous improvement, it will enable them to think about how to make tomorrow better than today. Over the coming months and years, Lean will be rolled out across the […]

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B & Q Customer Complaint Resolution
Resolution time reduced from an average of 22 days to 11 days with a strategy to reduce this further. Productivity improvements of between 50% and 90%, depending on the type of complaint. All customer complaints now acknowledged within 24 hours.    
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Developing Productivity in a Small Business
To see the full case study, click the download button. Some benefits gained: Profitability has significantly improved over the past four years by a factor of 4X. Inventory has been reduced by almost 40%. Business is sustaining growth of 15% per annum. Warehouse costs reduced by 30 percent. Off site warehouse eliminated. Customer on time [...]
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Focus on the Aerospace & Defence Sector

S A Partners work with a number of high profile Aerospace and Defence companies in the UK and internationally. Programmes include performance improvement, ‘CI Coach’ capability development and Leadership development programmes.

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Effective Forecasting & Planning (to deliver sustainable improvement)
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. Some benefits gained: The net financial savings of £113,667 was achieved during the 9 months of the project or an annualised benefit of £152,000 for the entire year. The forecasting accuracy improved from the baseline of ~50% to 90% overall. The forecasting was initially [...]
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Cutting waste and removing bottlenecks in head office processes
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. Some benefits gained: Visual management allowing lead time to be reduced from > 50 days to 16 days. A redesigned workspace that supported the smooth ‘flow’ of files through the process reduced WIP from 300 to 25. Visual management allowing lead time to be [...]
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Focus on the Food & Drink Sector for March

This month’s Food & Drink case focus looks at what’s been happening in this sector, especially case studies and guest speaker engagements carried out by the sector head Jeff Williams.

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Argos, a Retail Case Study
This case study undertaken at Argos, shows how lean has improved the dispatch warehouse.
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Supporting the Airbus Group AP Lean Journey (case study)

A brand new case study has been published highlighting the benefits achieved by our Australian and NZ based group at Airbus.

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Supporting the Airbus Group AP Lean Journey
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. Direct Savings -$44.2 million dollars generated by our MRH90 customer cost of ownership reduction program* Cost avoidance –Aircraft repairable Item serviceability savings = $18.2 million dollars per annum** Aircraft servicing regime optimised and boosts the availability of the RAAF fleet of twelve C-130J transports [...]
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What has Lean done for you? Maria Pia Caraccia, Panalpina

In this months podcast feature, we interview Maria Pia Caraccia who is the Regional Logistics Continuous improvement Manager for the America’s at Panalpina. When did you first learn about Lean Thinking? My first contact with lean thinking was a long time ago while I was still in University. Back then I learnt theoretical concepts and as […]

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Focus on the Aerospace & Defence Sector for February

S A Partners are working with a number of high profile companies in the Aerospace & Defence sectors. In particular, we work on Lean Academy and Coaching Programmes. Our experienced consultants deliver the training and coaching, accredited to the Cardiff University Lean Competency System (LCS) and an internationally renowned Leadership offering.

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Creating an accredited Lean Academy for a food & drink multi-national
To see the full case study, use the download link provided. During the first 3 years, over $100m USD/£70m in reduced inventory, procurement requirements & utilities costs. Increased Capacity across several sites Reduced waste/scrap and lead times Improved quality and customer experience Improved employee engagement, cross functional/organisational working, relationships with suppliers
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Shingo Discover Excellence Student Feedback
Here we have some attendee feedback of the S A Partners Shingo Discover Excellence workshop, with this one held at Shingo Medallion winners Vale. Find out more about Shingo, or why not book onto one of our Shingo Workshops.
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Focus on the Aerospace & Defence Sector for January

S A Partners are engaged in a number of strategic and exciting enterprise excellence and capability development programmes within the Aerospace and Defence sector. The sector is led by Robin Jaques , Partner at S A Partners.

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