Develop Consulting hosts event to help airports leverage lean methods
Develop Consulting has hosted an event at BMW MINI to showcase how lean manufacturing can be utilised within the airport sector. The event was well-attended by some of the UK’s leading airports, and Develop Consulting is now looking to turn it into a touring programme.
The past five years have seen firms across the UK and Europe respond to unprecedented change – while having to balance their finances – something which has seen the Lean experts at Develop Consulting come in for heavy demand. The firm now offers digital training for lean principles to clients across the country, while supporting organisations in the healthcare, manufacturing and – most recently – aviation spaces, as they look to get the most from their resources.
As it looks to spread the word further, Develop Consulting has held an event to help the field overcome security challenges faced in the new year. The firm hosted a day of talks at BMW MINI in Oxford, bringing together representatives from most of the UK airports. The purpose was to demonstrate how lean methodologies, proven effective within the manufacturing world, can enhance and streamline operations within the aviation sector as well.
Steve Clark, manufacturing and airports sector director at Develop Consulting, commented, "We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended our event and taking the time out to learn more about how lean thinking can shape the future of airport operations, while seeing it in action within a manufacturing setting. The collaboration and insights shared during the event exemplify the commitment of industry leaders to adapt and thrive in the face of upcoming challenges. It was also a fantastic opportunity to network with others in the sector and find out more about the challenges they are facing."
Develop Consulting has a broad spectrum of expertise within the industry, actively assisting airport operators in navigating various aspects ranging from security implementations to optimising car parking, ensuring smooth passenger flow and queue management, and addressing the intricacies of staff training and the challenges of growing volume. This will be reflected by future events, according to Clark, who added Develop Consulting would now look to hold a tour of meetings in 2024, and encouraged airports to get in touch for more information and dates.
Held in collaboration with Airport Operators Association (AOA) in November, the event showcased the transformative power of lean and how it is a crucial platform for industry leaders to navigate the evolving landscape of the aviation industry. This provided an invaluable opportunity for participants to gain insights – as well as hear first-hand from leaders from Birmingham Airport and Bristol Airports on how the methodology had helped them – ahead of a year in which major changes in security regulations are anticipated.
Richard Thomasson, head of customer operations for Bristol Airport, added, “We are delighted to partner with Develop Consulting to review and improve the customer processes at Bristol Airport. As a business we are committed to using innovation and Continuous Improvement techniques to improve customer experience at every key customer touch point across the Airport. Develop Consulting have delivered tools and techniques to prepare and equip the teams across the business to meet the ongoing demands of being a business embracing continuous improvement ways of working.”
