| ‘LEAN’ Champion Meets Shannon Aerospace Executive Team |  |
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‘LEAN’ Champion Meets Shannon Aerospace Executive Team - Shannon Aerospace Ltd. recently welcomed Mr. Ken Kreafle, a General Manager of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company, USA, to its facility at Shannon Airport. An authority on the Toyota Production System, Mr. Kreafle met with Senior Executives to discuss the aircraft maintenance company’s achievements to date by means of the introduction of ‘Lean Thinking’ throughout their organisation. A subsidiary company of Lufthansa Technik, Shannon Aerospace is fast establishing itself as a ‘Lean’ operation, targeting a 30% increase in productivity and a 30% reduction in aircraft ground times resulting in a 30% increase in the number of maintenance checks that the company can offer to its customers. Shannon Aerospace operates in a very competitive global market, where aircraft need to spend as much time in the air as possible and as little time on the ground as absolutely necessary. The company has recently implemented a ‘Pulse Line’ system which, through co-operative preparation with customers and suppliers, structures standardised maintenance and overhaul work to be carried out in a reliable and predictable manner. Speaking on the occasion of his visit, Mr. Kreafle said: “I am most impressed with how the Shannon Aerospace operation has so quickly embraced the principles that Toyota have evolved over the last 60 years. Every level and every area of the business is involved and working to clarify roles and enhance results by improving actual, rather than documented, processes. I believe the company is on the right track. Undoubtedly, as Shannon Aerospace continues to develop a deeper understanding of the Toyota Production System (TPS) or Lean Thinking, this will aid sustained and significant improvements into the future.” Following the visit, Shannon Aerospace Managing Director, Mr. Martin Kaiser, commented: “We were very honoured to welcome Mr. Kreafle to our Shannon operation. The successful implementation of our new business system (SBS) is an ongoing and key priority for our business and this meeting with Mr. Kreafle gave our Executive Team a valuable opportunity to share ideas and to learn from an accomplished leader in the Lean field.” He continued; “Our aim is to become the Number One Lean Leader in airframe MRO and our customers are already seeing the benefits of this client-focussed strategy.” Mr. Kreafle will return to Ireland in April to address delegates at the upcoming Lean Flight Initiative (LFI) Conference, of which Shannon Aerospace is a sponsor. At the conference, Mr. Kreafle will speak on ‘The Practical Adaptation of The Toyota Production System (Lean) to the Aviation Industry’ and will lead a workshop, directly with delegates, to gain insight into how their individual organisations might utilise Lean for their own specialised applications. Located just ten kilometres from the conference venue, delegates will also have the opportunity to tour the Shannon Aerospace Hangar and see their transition first hand. Those interested in attending the conference should contact Conference Event Manager Louise Delahunty on +353 86 8158150 / louise.delahunty@leanflightinitiative.com. Editor Note: Founded in 1989, Shannon Aerospace, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, specialises in the provision of Base Maintenance services to the world’s airline industry, with Lufthansa as its chief client. The company offers a portfolio of other expert services such as aircraft painting, engineering, line maintenance & training and specialises in Boeing 737, 757 & 767, Airbus A319, A320 & A321, MD80 & DC-9 aircraft. |
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