Lean Summit Africa
May 2009
News
Reflecting the growing popularity of lean thinking – the management and production system invented by Toyota and now embraced by companies like Dell Computers and Boeing – Cape Town will this year host the third annual Lean Summit Africa.
This conference, which has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2007, aims to increase the African business community’s knowledge of Lean tools, and promote the adoption of Lean as a means of improving product and service delivery while reducing costs, explains conference chair Professor Norman Faull of the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. “Lean thinking is gaining devotees in service organisations, manufacturing businesses, logistics companies and supply chains. Its goal is described as ‘to get the right things to the right place at the right time, the first time, while minimising waste and being open to change,” he adds.
The organisers have announced that this year’s Lean Summit speaker line-up includes Lean Management founder and guru Jim Womack. Faull elaborates: “We are delighted to have secured the renowned Jim Womack as one of our presenters. He is widely recognised as an initiator of the Lean movement, having collaborated on the research that led to Lean thinking.”
Based in the United States, Womack is the founder and chairman of the Lean Enterprise Institute in Boston. This non-profit training, publishing, and research organisation was established in 1997 to advance the ideas of Lean Production and Lean Thinking.
The Lean Summit Africa takes place at Cape Town International Convention Centre on 22 and 23 September 22 – preceded on 21 September by a series of half and full-day workshops.
For more information contact Wendy Zipp, Express Communications, +27 (0)11 524 0988, communicate@icon.co.za, or Jenny, Upavon Conferences, +27(0)11 805 6616, upavon@icon.co.za
Further reading:
Mining industry alignment will define Africa’s PDS journey
News
As African mines advance toward higher safety standards and respond to tightening regulations and rapid technological change, Booyco Electronics says the future of proximity detection systems will be shaped by strong long-term industry collaboration.
Read more...
RS South Africa launches student fund for future engineers
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa has launched the Student Project Fund, an initiative designed to support engineering and technology students as they transform innovative ideas into practical solutions.
Read more...
Raysonics Industrial celebrates 6,5 million injury-free hours
News
Raysonics Industrial, formerly DEKRA Industrial, has achieved a significant safety milestone, recording 6,5 million lost-time injury-free hours across its national operations.
Read more...
SICK earns Great Place To Work certification
SICK Automation Southern Africa
News
Sensor specialist SICK South Africa has been awarded Great Place to Work certification recognising the positive working environment and strong workplace culture it has developed.
Read more...
Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation chooses finalists
News
The Royal Academy of Engineering has shortlisted 16 innovators for the 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. This is the continent’s largest prize dedicated to stimulating, celebrating and rewarding engineering innovation and entrepreneurship across sub-Saharan Africa.
Read more...
From the Editor's desk: The AI paradox
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
AI has only been around in everyday life for a couple of years, but it’s resulted in a huge need for data storage and processing. The race to plug it into everything means that data centres are being
...
Read more...
BMG supports rising racing motorsport star
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
News
Backed by BMG and Liqui Moly, young South African racing driver, Karabo Malemela delivered a standout 2025 season in the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series, competing as part of the Pablo Clark Racing Motorsport Development Programme.
Read more...
Iritron Achieves Level 1 B-BBEE Status
Iritron
News
Iritron has achieved Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor status, up from Level 2 previously. This prestigious verification underscores Iritron’s unwavering commitment to transformation, inclusivity and sustainable empowerment in South Africa.
Read more...
RS South Africa celebrates three local university winners
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa, is celebrating the success of local student engineering teams following the announcement of the Formula Student Build Fund 2026 winners. The global initiative, led by RS, supports student teams around the world as they transform ambitious engineering concepts into fully functional Formula Student race cars.
Read more...
RS South Africa aligns with global shift towards sustainable packaging
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa is aligning with a global drive to reduce plastic waste as part of the Plastic Out programme led by the RS Group. The initiative aims to reduce emissions, minimise waste, and transform packaging across its international operations and value chain.
Read more...
printer friendly version