Making AI Work: The role of Lean and OpEx in process improvement using AI

ICBE Advanced Productivity Skillnet Webinar

Making AI Work: The role of Lean and OpEx in process improvement using AI

Free Webinar

September 2nd, 2026 12pm

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating significant opportunities to improve and automate how work is performed.  However, the availability of powerful AI tools also raises an important question for organisations: Does AI change the established principle that processes should be understood, mapped, simplified and improved before they are automated?

This 45-minute webinar explores AI adoption through a Lean and OpEx lens.  It argues that AI has not changed one of the fundamental principles of successful process improvement:

• Standardise → Optimise → Simplify → Automate (Using AI)

If we apply a powerful AI tool to a process that is poorly understood, overly complex, full of waste or simply ineffective, AI does not magically correct those problems.  The session will demonstrate how Lean can provide the framework for more effective AI adoption.  It will examine how Lean thinking can help organisations avoid simply automating existing waste and complexity.  Examples will be provided where AI can be used alongside existing Lean & OpEx tools such as:

• AI as idea generator (Brainstorming, Problem Solving)
• AI as a drafting assistant (turn notes into Flowcharts and Process Maps)

Delivered by Brian Coll, ATU

www.atu.ie

Brian is a lecturer in the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Sligo, where he lectures and is programme chair for the Lean, Six Sigma & OpEx White, Yellow and Green belt programmes. A pioneer in online learning, he helped launch Ireland’s first lecture podcasts for online students and co-developed and delivered Ireland’s first MOOC on Lean Sigma Quality.  Brian brings over 20 years’ experience in quality management, having held Director and Vice President roles with multinational organisations in Europe, the United States, and Mexico.  He earned an SMT Vision Award for a process-control innovation in electronics manufacturing and holds a U.S. patent related to his work in this area.