In Sept. 2022 training was approved for all Town of Gravenhurst employees to participate in LEAN training. The $50,000 for the initial training came from the Ontario Municipal Modernization Fund.
Elaine Harkiss-Laird, Senior Manager of Human Resources explained that Lean training is “a set of methodologies used to identify and reduce waste and inefficiencies while adding value to the customer. The goal is to create capacity to do more with the same resources. We want to create a corporate culture where continuous improvement is entrenched and creativity is encouraged and acknowledged among all of our staff.”
All Town of Gravenhurst staff were to be trained to a minimum of LEAN “White Belt, “and could choose to further their learning by taking the LEAN Green Belt and beyond. Harkiss-Laird said Administration had originally hoped for four green belts and 25 white belts for each of the three years and the completion of 12 Continuous Improvement projects by the end of 2023.
To date 109 employees have received training in LEAN, there are 17 Green Belt graduates, with three more in progress and 12 Green Belt Projects have been completed to date. She said that because of the LEAN training, the Town has identified to date a total value of savings of $450,562 and cumulative 4,407 hours in capacity annually have been created or an equivalent of $275,822 in time value. The training has also contributed to a reduction in errors, wait times for customer service and workplace safety has improved.
The next Gravenhurst Town council meeting is on Jan 17 at 3 p.m. Council has resumed meetings in-person, however they continue to be available to the public on the Town of Gravenhurst YouTube channel.
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