The issue will be addressed in a 60-minute webinar - Fighting Fit for a Future in Flux, organised by Food Manufacture and sponsored by Columbus, which airs on 20 October at 3pm UK time.
The webinar includes presentations from three experts with extensive food industry experience and will air at 3pm UK time. It aims to equip firms confronting supply chain and production challenges surrounding the Brexit transition period's end on 31 December, the approach of Christmas and the impact of COVID-19 and extreme weather.
Taking a whole-team approach to lean manufacturing, rather than relying on 'lean blackbelts', enables suppliers to simplify business processes, Katherine Thomas, director of Brighter Capability, will argue in her presentation. Thomas, who has worked for brands such as Warburtons, HJ Heinz and PepsiCo, will say: "As a result of the current climate, we have seen an increased need to implement change quickly. Organisations that can manage fast-paced change with a level of uncertainty are benefiting.
"That doesn't come from luck or someone's situation. It comes from having a knowledge of what they do at a specific level of granularity, with everyone engaged in the change.
Continuous improvement
"Many people might think this isn't the time to start a continuous improvement journey and may alternatively think now is the time to stop all ancillary activity and just hang on in there. At some level, we all need to make sure we still deliver every day despite the challenges. But I believe businesses now, more than ever, need to start to implement change to simplify every process in their supply chain, so that they are agile, their people are capable and adaptable, where together they can continue to deliver consistently today, whilst having clarity on the next change, which will be implemented tomorrow."
Register for the webinar for free to hear Thomas' further thoughts on the importance of a lean approach at this time.
In addition to Thomas, Gavin Milligan, founder, Green Knight Sustainability Consulting and former group sustainability director of William Jackson Food Group, will address the challenge of sustaining a resilient and sustainable supply chain.
Finally, Lee Walker, business consultant, food, at Columbus will look at the importance of lean, current and accurate information supporting complete visibility.
The webinar will be relevant to a range of management roles within factories, from operations and production to supply chain and procurement. Take a look at the full programme and to sign-up, visit the registration page.
