Calling all primary producers, agri-processors and agri-businesses looking to get more competitive in the global marketplace. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s (ARD) Productivity Improvement Initiative was established to assist producers and processors remain competitive, despite increased competition, rising prices, and a shortage of qualified employees, through increased efficiencies and technological capabilities.
“Efficiency is an important part of being competitive and profitable in this economy,” says manager, Productivity Improvement Initiative Nicola Stevens with ARD at Airdrie, Alberta.
The Initiative has been operating for several years, and uses a blend of on-line tools and resources, workshops, facility assessments and hands-on coaching to help businesses become more efficient.
One of the Initiative’s strategies to increased productivity is through an assessments and coaching approach with three streams. The first is through automation, equipment or process improvement assessments:
• Start with an initial assessment by ARD
• Use the engineering consultant of choice
• Apply for up to 80% of the cost of a follow-up, in-depth assessment.
Lean manufacturing looks at increasing productivity by:
• Start with an initial assessment by ARD
• Learn where lean principles will have the greatest impact in your process
• Apply for 80% coverage of the cost of a “lean approach.”
Lean and Green is the option for looking at environmental efficiencies:
• Start with an initial assessment by ARD
• Learn where you can reduce energy, water, waste, etc.
• Apply for 80% coverage of the cost of a ‘Lean and Green coach.’
“Especially as it relates to lean operations, it isn’t about doing more with less. It is about doing less but achieving more,” says Stevens.
One of the key tools on the website is an interactive, hands-on web resource developed specifically for the Alberta food processing industry. The Lean Journey Tool provides an introduction to the basic principles and tools of a lean enterprise, for business owners, managers, supervisors and all levels of staff. The hands-on web resource introduces owners, managers, and line staff to lean principles and some of the practical, user-friendly tools. In addition to learning activities, the resource includes tips for use in production and process flow to increase efficiency.
Other tools are targeted at energy management for agri-business and automation in processing plants.
Primary producers can benefit from increased efficiency
Stevens says that primary producers can also benefit from the Initiative. A case study done with the assistance of Mt. Sentinel Ranch at Nanton, Alberta illustrates some of the benefits of going lean on farms. A concrete example of one benefit was a 10% reduction in setup times for a recent fencing project. Key results from the case study also included:
- Although the ranch had always been seen as a business, the introduction of visual accountability and metrics helped to guide decision making.
- The inherent succession plan was reviewed and shared to ensure alignment with measures, actions, and communication plans.
- Some of the basic lean tools of value stream mapping and root cause analysis allowed the family to shift its thinking and take a look at what adds value, both to the internal and external customer and see the waste.
- 5-S workplace organization was seen as a time-saver.
- Standardization of activities is seen as key for the succession plan transfer of tribal knowledge.
The 5-S tool is valuable for any business, and can be applied to the office to help reduce paperwork and administrative time, or in a barn to improve workflow, or in a processing plant to achieve greater productivity. The 5-S activities are sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain.
“Lean thinking is a way to identify and eliminate waste from your processes, while adding value to your customers,” says Stevens. “We have had some very good responses and successes with the clients we have worked with.”
Workshop: Lean in the Office
A one day seminar on improving productivity by going lean in the office.
Edmonton, Alberta Oct 16
Lethbridge, Alberta Oct 18
Go to the Product Improvement Initiative website for further information.
“Ultimately, increased productivity is important to any company working in the agricultural sector. We work with companies to help them operate as efficiently as possible,” says Nicola Stevens.
Contact:
Nicola Stevens
403-948-8511
Email: [email protected]