Lean Manufacturing Consultant – Adelaide & South Australia
Work with OE Partners’ Lean manufacturing consultants in Adelaide and boost productivity while reducing waste.
Lean manufacturing is a popular philosophy that has been widely adopted by businesses, and for good reason. Manufacturers have turned to this approach to maximise their production and find efficiencies where possible - particularly in a competitive environment.
Adopting lean management systems is easier than you think. With the right partner, your business can identify areas for improvement and rectify them without disrupting its production.
At OE Partners, we collaborate with manufacturers and warehousing operations across South Australia to deliver Lean consulting services that produce tangible results. Our Adelaide-based Lean consultants work hands-on with your team, applying proven Lean tools to eliminate waste and implementing systems that support your organisation’s long-term growth.
Whether you're looking to reduce costs, improve working capacity, or train your leadership team, we can provide practical Lean solutions tailored to your operation and your people.
Why South Australian Manufacturers Are Embracing Lean
South Australia's manufacturing landscape is evolving. From advanced manufacturing and defence to food processing and building products, local businesses face more competition, higher operating costs, and pressure to do more with less.
That’s where the Lean philosophy comes in. Lean manufacturing has provided immense value to global manufacturers, enabling teams to establish a structured framework and implement systems that improve flow, streamline processes, and increase performance capacity.
OE Partners have long supported businesses in Adelaide and South Australia with Lean consulting and implementation. Unlike many consultants in the industry, we take pride in our direct involvement with clients, with nearly 80% of our work conducted on the ground.
Here’s how we can help:
- Boost output without increasing headcount
- Cut unnecessary handling, rework, and delays
- Implement clear visual systems to track and improve performance
- Build internal Lean capability at all levels — from operators to senior managers
Our Approach to Lean in Adelaide
With decades of experience in multinational companies, our experienced Lean consultants deliver end-to-end programs that are practical, fast-paced, and built for real-world environments. Our focus is always on implementation, not theory. This means we work alongside your organisations to adopt Lean practices into your processes and teams.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on our consulting approach:
Step 1 – Assess the Current State
We begin with a structured on-site Lean diagnostic. It involves observing your organisation’s key processes, mapping out value streams, and identifying any flow and productivity issues.
Step 2 – Design the Future State
Together with your team, we co-design an improvement roadmap that aligns with your goals, focusing on both quick wins and long-term transformation.
Step 3 – Deliver, Coach & Support
Our consultants work closely with your staff to implement Lean tools, introduce visual management systems, and coach leaders to sustain improvements over time.
Lean Services Available in Adelaide & South Australia
Whether it’s site-specific projects or a broader business transformation, our team provides a full range of Lean consulting services designed to support you at any stage of your manufacturing process.
Our services include the following:
- Value Stream Mapping (VSM) – Map key processes and design more efficient workflows
- 5S & Workplace Organisation – Create cleaner, safer, more productive work areas
- Standard Work Systems – Reduce variation stemming from changes and implement faster, more consistent training
- Visual Management – Track production KPIs and drive daily accountability
- TPM & Maintenance Support – Reduce unplanned downtime and improve asset reliability
- Lean Leadership Development – Build the skills and behaviours that create high-performing leaders
Recent Outcomes – Delivered by OE Partners
Here are several real results we’ve achieved with South Australian manufacturers and logistics businesses:
- Lean consulting and implementation for a building materials company in Adelaide's northern suburbs, improving production flow and reducing changeover time by 30%
- Implementing 5S systems for a regional food processing business that reduced floor space requirements by 20%
- Introducing visual scheduling for a defence sector supplier that addressed their daily problem-solving huddles across multiple shifts
Our team is happy to share other case studies that are specific to your business. Contact us to learn more about our work.
Our South Australian Customers
Porta
Porta is a proudly family-owned Australian manufacturer of timber mouldings. Building on its 100+ years of history and experience, they wanted to expand their warehousing footprint. We worked with the organisation to redesign and optimise the end-to-end processes and maximise ROI.
Hoshizaki Lancer
With head offices in Adelaide, Hoshizaki Lancer engaged OE Partners to help optimise its national supply chain. We right-sized the company's manufacturing facilities and streamlined product logistics flows to achieve significant savings.
Hitachi Global Air Power
With offices in Adelaide and other states, Hitachi engaged our consultants to train and coach senior HGAP staff on Lean Six Sigma tools and principles. The team achieved green belt certification and significant cost savings through a wide range of business improvement projects, including "Improvement of Order Conversion Rate", "Reduction of After-Hours Customer Response Time", "Spare Parts Inventory Optimisation", and "Improvement of Technician Training Time."
Why Work with OE Partners?
- Adelaide-Based Consultants – We’re on the ground in South Australia and ready to support your team in person
Deep Industry Experience – Our consultants have run manufacturing and supply chain operations, not just advised from the sidelines - Structured + Flexible – We bring a proven Lean framework while adapting to your culture, capability, and business stage
- Results First – Our programs are built around clear, measurable goals — whether that’s output, cost, or customer service
Supporting Manufacturers Across South Australia
Our Lean consultants are available to service clients across:
- Greater Adelaide – including Wingfield, Lonsdale, Regency Park, Edinburgh, and Tonsley
- Regional South Australia – including Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Murray Bridge, and the Barossa Valley
FAQs
Do you work with small or mid-sized manufacturers?
Both! We tailor our approach to suit the size, complexity, and maturity of your business, ranging from SMES to enterprises.
Do you provide on-site support?
Absolutely. We regularly conduct on-site assessments, workshops, and implementation coaching throughout Adelaide and South Australia.
Can you help us develop internal Lean leaders?
Definitely, our programs include hands-on leadership coaching to help embed Lean habits and encourage accountability in your organisation.
Talk to a Lean Consultant in Adelaide
Looking to improve your production flow, reduce waste, or empower your team with Lean thinking? We’d love to learn more about your goals and explore how we can help. Contact our consultants today.
Call us on 1800 874 167
Or book a consultation
