Introduction to Lean

Inviting the owners and managers of local businesses & service providers to experience productivity gains in a fun learning environment. Find out what the benefits are from Lean manufacturing practices whilst building Lego planes. Although demonstrated in a manufacturing setting, the process improvement practices work for any process in many sectors including the building industry, professional service providers, and distribution.

You must register on our website to attend this event: https://www.hbchamber.nz/events-training/events/introduction-to-lean-management/

In the Aeroplane Game©, the operations move from a typical chaotic business environment to smooth operating Lean production facility. The facilitator guides teams through the identification of issues and waste, then helps them to develop and implement improvement ideas. It soon becomes apparent that teamwork will be essential if the production is to meet demand. Encouraging teamwork and developing a code of conduct is all part of this process.

Content Includes:

Teamwork – Code of conduct, what makes a good team, roles & responsibilities
5S – Workplace organisation & the visual workplace
Process & materials flow
Theory of Constraints (ToC)
Set-Up Time Reduction (SUTR)
The 8 wastes
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Improvement Cycle
Cost factors


Presenters: Dave Fellowes & Geerten Lengkeek

Dave Fellowes

Dave arrived in NZ in 2002 with extensive operational experience in fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing, having worked at Nutricia and Northern Foods in the UK. In New Zealand, he further honed his Continuous Improvement skills at Heinz Wattie’s and Fonterra.

Dave’s fresh but experienced eyes have a keen sense of ‘what good looks like’, especially in any critical hygiene operations area. This ability enables him to point to productivity improvement opportunities that are often missed by others. He seldom leaves a manufacturing setting without offering a tangible improvement, whether it be a subtle change in the line set-up or a complete overhaul of the production process.

Dave’s infectious passion for improvement opportunities rubs off on anyone who works with him. He has a proven ability to develop and nurture a continuous improvement mindset in teams and operational leaders and gets real satisfaction out of coaching people to see them grow and blossom.



Geerten Lengkeek

Geerten helps manufacturing and supply chain companies achieve breakthrough performance in their operations. The resulting benefits include sustained competitiveness in cost, customer service and quality, a continuous improvement system and culture, and improved skills, engagement and retention of the people of the enterprise.

Geerten has been in operations leadership and continuous improvement roles for the past 25 years, in a variety of settings globally. His operations experience spans supply chain, procurement, manufacturing and warehousing. He has worked in Primary Industry, Food and Beverage, Engineering, Pharmaceutical and FMCG. He counts among his clients Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Patchell Group, Hustler Equipment, Cedenco Foods, OPAC and EastPack kiwifruit, Sequal, SCA, Fulton Hogan, Synlait, Westland Milk Products and Fonterra.

He enjoys getting involved at shop-floor as well as at leadership level and connects well with people. He is not afraid to address the hardest of issues and does so in a direct but respectful way. He thus gets results by empowering leaders and people to achieve the cultural change needed to become an industry-leading player.



If you have any questions regarding upcoming events, or would like to speak about anything 'events' please feel free to contact events@hbchamber.nz.