The Leading Edge Group has extensive experience of working in the food & drinks sector since 1995 ranging from the provision of change and continuous improvement education and training programs to supporting full Lean deployments across multiple sites. Food industry experience includes the following diverse businesses:
- Dairy processing
- Non-dairy food processing
- Drinks manufacturing
- Agri-chemicals
- Food retail
- Food distribution
- Food service
- Confectionary
- Brewery / Distillers
- Beverage packaging
- Food market and consumer research
- Food R&D
- Academia – Food science
The company have specifically worked with clients to improve operational flexibility, increase throughput, deliver a consistent service, reduce lead times and improve overall quality. In conjunction with their academic partners, employees from a large section of the food sector have been trained to Lean Green and Black Belt level.
The Leading Edge Group food consulting and training projects have included the following:
- Supporting Lean start and Lean transform deployments
- Establishing a centralised global procurement division
- Performing health checks on the extended supply chain
- Performing a risk benefit analysis on cost reduction opportunities
- Technology assessment of electronic proof of delivery
- Reviewing cost effectiveness of existing distribution methods
- Developing a demand management programme for global supply chain
- Lean diagnostic assessment of production activities
- Developing a global supply chain strategy
- Developing future marketing strategy – functional food opportunity
- Full value assessment of group activities
- Benchmark study
- Working capital Lean audit review
- Procurement best practice review
- Supplier assessments
- Training on strategic sourcing
- Delivering a specific restructuring programme
- Lean yellow, green & black belt training
Food clients include Glanbia; Dairygold; Tipp Coop; Eolas International; Irish Distillers; Hi Cone; Kerry Group, Kepak, Kraft Foods, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo, Sleeman Breweries, Kellogg Canada, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Unilever and Nestle USA.
