'What an impact they made': Clare students win industry support at leading network conference

Transition Year students from St Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon stole the show at this year’s Mid-West Lean Network Conference after taking to the stage and seeking companies’ support in solving real problems within the school.

In a first for the conference, the organiser, Shannon Chamber, replaced its traditional mid-event showcase of lean solutions with student-led pitches, highlighting issues they face daily. 

Two companies immediately volunteered to take on the challenge: Berka Solutions, an Ennis-based consultancy specialising in business transformation and continuous improvement and Cook Medical in Limerick, a global leader well practiced in lean and continuous improvement methodologies.

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Berka Solutions will work with the school to streamline canteen operations, reduce queues and improve payment efficiency. Cook Medical will help develop a solution aimed at reducing unauthorised student exits by 90% within three months. Both companies will also train staff and students to ensure effective adoption of the new systems. The completed projects will be presented at a Mid-West Lean Network event in 2026.

Shannon Chamber CEO, Helen Downes, expressed her delight with the initiative: “While we regularly include secondary students in events that support their learning, this was our first time inviting them to actively participate in our annual lean conference, and what an impact they made.

“They were articulate, well prepared and impressed the audience of senior executives from diverse sectors. Their futures are certainly bright and their CVs will be in demand when they complete their studies. We look forward to seeing the solutions they help deliver," she added. 

The students’ involvement was one highlight in an action-packed conference, featuring speakers from Cook Ireland (Pat Burke, vice president and general manager), PPG Ireland (Gerry Cahill, global operations director), Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (Pat Foley, CEO and managing director) CSG (Kevin Quinn, CEO), J&J Vision Care (Maeve McLoughlin, process excellence lead), Ei Electronics (Nicky Mullen, process development engineer), Zimmer Biomet (HR business partner), Penn Engineering (Goda Zvikaite, quality assurance/design and compliance quality), Ballygowan Britvic Ireland (Kieran Stack, plant manager) and Shannon Precision Engineering (Dominic Murphy, managing director).

Their panel discussions and presentations explored the conference theme: The role every layer of an organisation plays in driving continuous improvement. Topics included ‘Transforming Lean Mindsets’, ‘Bringing Lean to Life - From Vision to Reality’ and ‘Cultivating Mindset and Perspective.’

The keynote address was delivered by Marie Power, head of leadership development at Uppercut, who opened her talk by singing ‘There Is an Isle’ in a striking operatic performance. Drawing from her background in opera, she highlighted how orchestral performance mirrors lean principles: each role working in harmony to produce a refined, value-driven outcome.

Along with this, practical case studies from J&J Vision Care and Ei Electronics resonated strongly with attendees and students alike. They underscored that failure, embarrassment and setbacks are inevitable, and invaluable teachers. 

“Employees must feel comfortable contributing and driving improvements,” presenters stressed.

Keynote speaker Marie Power echoed this sentiment, noting that opera taught her timeless lessons about high performance: “Every role, from soprano to stagehand, is vital. If one person falters, the entire performance suffers. Opera is intentional, every action adds value. Just as in lean, there is no room for waste or unnecessary noise.”

She reminded attendees that lean tools alone do not create high-performing organisations, people and culture do. Her advice included: focus on actions that truly matter, eliminate negativity and ego, admit mistakes, repeat without fear, empower everyone and manage energy to avoid burnout.

“Don’t rely on short-term bursts,” she cautioned.

Reflecting on the event, Cook Medical continuous improvement engineer and outgoing Mid-West Lean Network chair, Jennifer Stratton said: “Our goal was to equip and inspire everyone, regardless of their role or experience, to contribute to operational excellence. Through practical examples and rich knowledge sharing, the day achieved exactly that.”

She formally handed the chair role to James Martin, continuous improvement facilitator at Atlantic Aviation Group, who will lead the network for the next two years. She expressed her thanks for the opportunity to serve, noting that her lean journey began in 2019 and has since led to strong connections with fellow practitioners.