Lean is a business-model and management approach geared around continuously improving processes and efficiency, leading to greater productivity. It has been readily adopted by industry heavy-weights such as Caterpillar. However, many mid-sized and SME manufacturers assume this world-class technique is out of their reach.

EEF’s Lean Academy levels the playing field, allowing smaller companies to access and learn the game-changing methods and boost their efficiency and growth.

It is built around a full-scale, configurable and transportable modular assembly line, which can be reconfigured daily to challenge a company’s employees as they work through a 12 day programme. This makes the exercises real-to-life and relevant to the individual business. The content of the Academy is bespoke, making it even easier for employees to apply the techniques successfully in their workplace. 

Dr Steve Chicken CEng MIED, manufacturing growth director at EEF, says: “Lean can transform businesses, providing manufacturers with game-changing techniques to boost efficiency and growth. These techniques are already being used by larger companies and our mission is to now make them accessible to smaller and mid-sized firms too.”