Category: Insights AU

  • Retailers are moving upstream: What the food and grocery code of conduct means for your factory floor

    Australia’s supermarket duopoly is now legally required to treat suppliers differently, with operational consequences extending well beyond the negotiating table. The ACCC supermarket inquiry found Coles and Woolworths to be among the most profitable grocery retailers in the world, with product margins rising for five consecutive financial years1. On 1 April 2026, the transitional period…

  • Meat manufacturing lean transformation: 15 plants, one system

    It is estimated that 20% of all meat produced worldwide is lost or wasted, with much of it being lost inside the factory before any product reaches the shelves. From isolated fixes to a shared operating model For a multi-site manufacturer operating 15 plants, 2,500 employees, and sales in 66 countries, closing that gap meant…

  • How Daily KAIZEN™ transformed Lactogal’s operations

    Lactogal, a leading Portuguese dairy company that processes millions of liters of milk each year, has partnered with Kaizen Institute to unlock new levels of performance across its industrial operations. Balancing growth with quality and sustainability Facing rising global demand and the need to balance output with quality and sustainability, the company launched Via Láctea.…

  • A unified CI system delivered 20% higher productivity and 53% less waste in meat production

    A century of heritage, powered by continuous improvement For more than a hundred years, this company has competed in the global meat industry through a fully integrated, farm-to-fork value chain, from animal feed and livestock to every stage of fresh and processed meat production. With over 250 employees and a portfolio spanning branded products and…

  • Six years of zero: why Australia’s productivity crisis demands a process fix

    For six years running, Australia’s economy has shown no aggregate productivity growth. In 2024–25 alone, labour productivity experienced a 0.6% contraction1, while multifactor productivity declined by 0.5%2. This represents a continuation of a downward trend that the Australian Industry Group (2026) estimates has left the economy roughly 7% smaller, in productivity terms, than its pre-pandemic…

  • Inside Australian manufacturing’s margin squeeze: the lever most operators are underusing

    In March 2026, Australian manufacturing entered a phase of contraction. Meanwhile, the S&P Global Australia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to a five-month low of 49.8 from 51.0 in February, marking the first reading below the 50.0 no-change threshold. The headline number is unwelcome in itself, but it does not represent the most challenging…

  • Built to fail? How Australia’s construction crisis exposed three decades of productivity decline

    Australia’s construction sector is in the grip of a compound crisis that cannot be solved by any procurement clause, contract amendment, or short-term stimulus package. Construction insolvencies have reached levels not seen for over a decade, cost escalation continues to outpace the protections built into many fixed-price agreements, and the current fuel price surge is…

  • Operational transformation in a large-scale quick service restaurant network

    -18% Weekly restaurant labor hours + 100 Labor hours reduced per store +30% Improvement in order accuracy The Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector operates in a high-volume, high-pressure environment where speed, consistency, and cost control are critical to performance. Restaurants must manage fluctuating demand throughout the day while maintaining consistent service standards across drive-through, takeout,…

  • Operational excellence transformation in a global agrifood processor

    +7% OEE +40% Labor productivity -6% Utilities consumption In a highly competitive global agrifood market, operational efficiency is no longer optional — it is a strategic imperative. For large-scale almond processors operating with seasonal variability, energy-intensive processes, and significant labor requirements, even small inefficiencies can translate into substantial financial impact. This case study presents the…

  • Transforming store productivity through operational excellence

    201 Hours saved per week in pilot store ~12% Reduction in total store labor hours $61M Annual savings In a highly competitive retail environment, operational excellence at the store level has become a decisive lever for profitability. As labor costs remain one of the largest components of store operating expenses, improving productivity without compromising the…