Gates Power Transmission manufactures synchronous belts for automotive and industrial markets. In 2004, Gates began its lean implementation initiative called the "Gates Production System," (based on the Toyota model) and in the 2008 Cranfield University / Works Management Best Factory Awards, the Dumfries site won the Best Engineering Plant award and was also Highly Commended for Supply Chain.

Iain shared experiences on the success and challenges of implementing and sustaining "lean", the benefits of adopting a balanced scorecard approach and business performance results that can be realised by lean implementation. The slides from the presentation are available on this website under the Business Improvement Club menu item Presentations

Babcock Marine at Rosyth faces a huge challenge in refining its operational processes to meet the demands of the new aircraft carrier contract. HM Ships Queen Elizabeth & Prince of Wales will be the biggest ships ever built for the Royal Navy and the task of doing this on time and to budget is almost as big! Starting with the annual business plan, developing and monitoring line-of-sight objectives, prioritising an array of process and systems improvements and changing the culture of the whole environment is a ten-year campaign involving every tool, technique and trick in the book.