Interview: Patrick Edelmann, president of Edelweis

Michele Howe , February 16th, 2009

In times of growing uncertainty, the implementation of lean management is key to long-term survival, Patrick Edelmann, president of Canadian landscaping contractor Edelweis explains to Commercial Outdoor Design how to adopt the Kaizen method

What is the Kaizen method of lean management?

One of the services offered by Edelweis is the implementation of Lean Management in Landscaping Firms.  Kaizen is one of the different ways to implement Lean Management. 

Lean Management itself is a procedure applied in production or management with the objective of reducing any activity that is not directly oriented toward the creation of value for the end customer.

Lean Management aims for the reduction of production cycle duration, the reduction of stock, a better productivity and the optimization of quality.

Kaizen is the methodology used by Toyota.  The term Kaizen means continuous improvement; whereas the occidental way would often be to put down everything and start from scratch, Kaizen is done progressively and takes into account the human factor.
 
Its goal goes beyond simple productivity improvement. It is also a process which, when done correctly, humanizes the workplace, eliminates strenuous work and teaches people how to perform experiments at work using the scientific method and how to learn to spot and eliminate waste in business.

People at all levels of an organization can participate in Kaizen. The format can be individual, small group, or large group.



An efficient application of Kaizen requires motivation and actions from all the people involved.

Kaizen methodology includes making changes and monitoring results, then adjusting. As it is an ongoing process, it allows much flexibility in regularly implementing small improvements for an overall important increase of productivity.

How can the Kaizen method apply in particular to the landscaping industry?

Lean Management implies a scientific analysis using specific methodologies of all the activities done by all the members of the team to identify any step that could be done in a different way to be more efficient, or simply be eliminated because it is found not to be related to the creation of value for the end customer.

The conception and implementation of landscaping involves many steps and many workers. At every stage there is often an opportunity to improve productivity, sometimes as simple as the way the tools are used or, more complicated, the ergonomic installations, a tighter planification or a more accurate evaluation of the material needed, etc.

All the members of the teams are involved in the process. Because we use the Kaizen methodology, it is done on a continuous basis, making changes regularly, monitoring the results then adjusting for a continuous improvement.

What benefit would landscape design firms or contactors gain from employing the concept?

Improvement of the bottom line while optimization of quality. The objective of Lean Management is to eliminate waste: Waste of worked hours, waste of material, waste of use of machinery, waste of time redoing a job.

The hardscape aspect of landscaping is even more crucial as it is a major part of the long term investment in landscaping.  Edelweis first orients its efforts in this field when bringing technical expertise as a slight improvement in work methodology can make a big difference to the bottom line and in the reduction of waste of any kind.

Lean Management is a cost effective process as its application leads to a better productivity and profitability without sacrificing final product quality and takes into account the human factor.



How can the Kaizen method help during a time of economic uncertainty?

In this time of economic uncertainty, we can not afford to let our process of production, of landscaping or others, have sources of waste of time or resources.

These strained economic times require budgetary tightening in all fields, hence the importance of applying cost-effective solutions without sacrificing final product quality.

Lean Management is a solution to this reduction of potential waste of time and resources. Edelweis provides customized services of formation and implementation of Lean Management in landscaping firms.

With close to 20 years of experience, Patrick Edelmann, its president, is well aware of all the challenges that are met in Landscaping businesses and is a valuable resource in Lean Management implementation as his enterprise is itself on a continuous improvement process with Lean Management.

Landscaping is the reflection of its owner.  Despite the economic uncertainty, we have the tools to keep realizing exceptional landscape designs and make landscaping a profitable activity for all the creators and constructors involved, to the benefit of the client.