Reflections from the Lean Summit Africa 2024
Date: November 2024
Written by: John Vellema, BTP
BTP in South Africa:
The 2024 Lean Summit Africa was hosted by BTP Regional Manager, Ben Hoseus, through his role with the Lean Institute Africa at the UCT Graduate School of Business, brought together industry leaders, Lean practitioners, and thought leaders to discuss the latest developments in Lean management. The summit provided a platform for engaging discussions on workforce development, digitalization, and best-practice training methods to drive operational excellence.
Lean Institute Africa, a non-profit at UCT’s Graduate School of Business, has promoted Lean Thinking in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2008. As the region’s only Lean Global Network member, it fosters learning through education, research, and partnerships.
A Gathering of Lean Experts
The event featured keynote speeches from global Lean experts, including Mike Hoseus (USA), Jake Morris (South Africa), Terry O’Donoghue (South Africa), and myself from Denmark. Each of us shared insights from ourexperiences in implementing Lean in different industries, from manufacturing to healthcare.
My Keynote on Training Within Industry (TWI)
As part of the summit, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote Training within Industry (TWI). I shared case studies illustrating how TWI has been instrumental in driving Lean transformations across various industries, from global multinationals to local enterprises. The presentation highlighted how structured job training, coaching, and leadership development foster sustainable Lean cultures.
Key Themes of the Summit
The summit revolved around three major themes:
- Developing and Engaging People: Discussions focused on effective leadership, employee engagement, and best-practice training approaches, such as on-the-job training and skill development.
- Staying Current in the Digital Age: Presenters explored the integration of Lean methodologies with emerging digital tools to enhance efficiency and adaptability.
- Best-Practice Industry Training: Case studies showcased how leading organizations have successfully implemented structured training programs to drive operational improvement.
Ben Hoseus facilitating a workshop on creating people development systems – sharing key insights on how to build and sustain a strong Lean culture.
John Vellema sharing key insights on TWI, Job Instruction, and Job Relations – exploring their impact on leadership and sustainable Lean transformation.
Break-out Sessions and Case Studies
Participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive break-out sessions featuring case studies from various industries. Highlights included:
- The Red Tape Reduction Unit case study from the Western Cape Government, presented by Ayesha Augustus.
- An insightful session by Dr. Greg Bellairs from Western Cape Blood Services on implementing continuous improvement in non-profit organizations.
- A compelling case study from Cape Union Mart, demonstrating a remarkable six-month profit turnaround through Lean implementation, presented by Sean Mercer from BMA.
- Effective on-the-job training strategies for front-line workers, presented by Juane Schutte from Jendamark.
- A workshop on creating people development systems, facilitated by Ben Hoseus, Regional partner for BTP
Looking Ahead
The Lean Summit Africa 2024 was a powerful reminder of how Lean principles continue to evolve and shape industries worldwide. The event reinforced the importance of developing people, embracing digital advancements, and leveraging structured training approaches to build high-performing organizations.
As Lean practitioners, we must continue to learn from each other and implement these insights into our daily operations. I look forward to seeing how these discussions translate into tangible improvements in the coming years.
If this has inspired you to join the Lean Enterprise Africa Lean Summit 2025, then this link is for you.
A big thanks goes to Lean Summit Africa for hosting the summit and inviting us to join.
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