On October 15th, 2024, Whyy? Change, Rotherham’s highest-rated independent training provider, hosted its second Operational Excellence (OpEx) Meetup, a pivotal event for manufacturing and engineering companies in South Yorkshire. Sponsored by the British Manufacturing Consortium and Whyy? Unboxd, the event brought industry leaders together to share knowledge on Operational Excellence.
Event Highlights
Phil Rodrigo, Master Cutler of Hallamshire, opened the event with insights from the Labour Party’s Industrial Strategy Report. He emphasised the importance of operational excellence, drawing from Outokumpu’s 35-year journey in sustainable stainless-steel production.
Sam Littlewood, Lead Process Engineer at Castings Technology, presented on the transformative impact of Lean & Six Sigma. His implementation of 6S across various departments led to a 45% reduction in machining times and cost savings of £55,260. Sam credited his Lean & Six Sigma Green Belt training from Whyy? Change for these achievements.
Lynda Holbrey, Head of Quality HSE at Whyy? Change, discussed the future of ISO standards, focusing on sustainability and the London Declaration’s climate action implications.
Adam Davies, Head of Continuous Improvement at Sheffield Forgemasters, showcased a case study on the company’s operational enhancements, projecting savings of £2.6 million. He highlighted the widespread adoption of Lean & Six Sigma training within the organisation.
Building Relationships and Future Collaboration
The event fostered new partnerships and collaboration opportunities. An engaging icebreaker session and an expert Q&A panel, hosted by Adam Bradley, Director of Corrosion Resistant Materials, facilitated networking and knowledge sharing.
Ray Byrne, CEO of Whyy? Change, reflected on the event’s success:
“Our goal was to place Whyy? at the centre of the conversation on business excellence in South Yorkshire. With the quality of speakers and attendees, we’ve achieved that. Now, the real work of supporting business transformation begins. Ray added: Sustained change requires sharing ideas and networking. Events like OPEX24 stimulate innovation and competitive spirit, drawing together innovators and profit makers.”
Attendee, Joe Hall, Operations Manager at Glu Recruit, shared:
“By attending Operational Excellence meet-up I have gained a deeper understanding of Lean & Six Sigma and how they contribute to operational excellence. I also had limited knowledge of ISO standards, but now I see how they foster a more efficient operating environment.”
