Pre-Conference Gemba Events
The Lean Business Ireland Annual Conference 2027, scheduled for 15th & 16th of June at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Athlone, offers a comprehensive pre-conference program featuring site tours and masterclasses. Attendees will engage in immersive site visits to leading companies, gaining firsthand insights into effective Lean practices. Complementing these tours, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) will deliver a masterclass led by industry experts who will delve into advanced topics in AI, Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence. This combination provides participants with practical knowledge and strategic perspectives to drive excellence within their organisations.
The below Benchmarking and Masterclass opportunities are available to all attendees of the LBI Conference 2027 (16th June). Due to limited availability we ask that only two attendees register per organisation?
Benchmark Visit 1
AbbVie Sligo (Manorhamilton Road)
1.30pm - 4.00pm, June 9th, 2026
AbbVie Ireland operates two separate plants in Sligo employing more than 600 staff. The company’s high-containment facility on the Manorhamilton Road was established in 2002 and has dedicated capabilities for potent active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product manufacturing.
The quality control labs are equipped with the latest design technology for chemical and microbiological analytical testing to meet customers’ needs. This site recently underwent a significant €85 million expansion that doubled its footprint and provided additional capability to support AbbVie’s new product introductions.
Registration has now closed.
Benchmark Visit 2
National AI Studio for Manufacturing
2.00pm - 4.00pm, June 9th, 2026
We welcome attendees to visit the AIM Centre, home to Ireland’s first National AI Studio for Manufacturing & Services, dedicated to helping organisations adopt and apply AI and automation technologies to drive innovation, improve productivity, and future-proof operations. The visit includes a short tour of the Centre, showcasing the different services and technologies available to companies.
Attendees will also take part in a practical masterclass exploring how organisations can adopt AI responsibly while supporting Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence initiatives. The session will focus on managing AI risks, improving decision-making, and applying practical checks around privacy, accuracy, bias, transparency, and human oversight - giving attendees actionable tools to confidently integrate AI into their organisations.
Venue:
Market Place,
Abbeyquarter North, Sligo
F91 WV7R
Registration has now closed.
ATU Masterclass
Lean & OpEx in the Age of AI: workshop
2.00pm June 9th, 2026
2.00 PM – 3.00 PM: Examples of AI-enabled best practice Lean & OpEx use cases. Delivered by a panel of industry/academia experts:
Speaker 1: Dr. David Tormey, Director of PEM Research and Technology Gateway Centre – ATU Sligo.
Speaker 2: Eoghan Brophy, Value Stream & Analytics Excellence Manager, Tirlán, Kilkenny.
Speaker 3: Alan Slattery, Associate Director of Manufacturing Systems, Boston Scientific, Galway.
Speaker 4: John O’Brien, Digital Transformation Lighthouse Director, Coca-Cola, Ballina.
3.10 PM: Coffee Break & Networking
3.20 PM – 4.45 PM: Masterclass hands-on Workshop: Brian Coll & Caroline Mullan, Lecturers Lean Six Sigma & OpEx, ATU Sligo.
Participants working in their teams utilise AI to complete real-life Lean & OpEx use cases.
As as idea generator (Brainstorming, Problem Solving)
AI as a statistical analyst (generate and interpret graphs / Histogram / Pareto, etc.)
AI as a drafting assistant (turn notes into SIPOC, A3, FMEA, etc.)
Participants will use their own laptops to complete some exercises.
4.45 PM – 5.00 PM: Discussion and close
Registration has now closed.
Register To Attend Lean Business Ireland 2027
Discuss objectives, requirements, and timeline with an event strategist in a focused session.
Should you wish to attend the LBI Annual Enterprise Excellence Conference 2027 as a delegate on the 15th & 16th June, please complete one of the below options and a full seminar program and your event login will be forwarded to you.