“I loved the practicality of it, the lecturer had excellent real-life experience and took all the mystery away from the Lean Six Sigma process.
Siobhain Carroll from Kilsaran in Co. Louth always interested in science, graduating with a degree in Analytical Science from Dundalk IT and Letterkenny IT, followed a few years later by a Masters in Science from DIT Cathal Brugha Street.
She began her career at Heinz in Dundalk, at first on the factory floor doing quality control checks; promotions there and with other companies followed before she joined Probiotec Ireland, Dundalk in 2010 as Technical Manager and was subsequently promoted to Operations Manager. The company made meal replacement products for weight control and then branched out into protein drinks for the burgeoning sports nutrition sector. Siobhain said,
“It was a new facility and I was one of the first people they employed so I was at the forefront of establishing the factory’s quality control, production, logistics and labelling processes. It was hectic, but I couldn’t have asked for better practical experience.”
The company was sold in 2016 and Siobhain moved to Morgan’s Fine Fish in Omeath, Co. Louth as Head of Quality.
“I love diversity and my science qualifications and experience always stuck with me, opening up doors into many different sectors.”
Siobhain had long been aware of the increased focus on lean manufacturing processes and the importance of a Lean Six Sigma qualification to many employers. Morgan’s Fine Fish had already sent several people to the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course in DKIT, so when the opportunity came around again she took it.
Lean Six Sigma is a project management process derived from the Toyota Production System and is primarily focused on the elimination of ‘waste’ within a company in all its forms. This can include areas like the manufacture of defective products, underutilised staff talent and inefficient work practices. It follows a specific path called ‘DMAIC’ which stands for Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control to arrive at the solution to a business problem.
Each participant on the course looks at their own business, proposes and agrees a project with their employers, then presents it to their colleagues and lecturers on the course. Siobhain decided to focus on Morgan’s pre-pack line.There were inconsistencies in the pack presentation and she streamlined the process to improve quality, consistency and variation. Siobhain’s project was very successful and she received her Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma in 2016.
Siobhain now works as Quality and Compliance Manager with Irish Breeze in Drogheda. Commenting on the course, she said,
“I loved the practicality of it, the lecturer had excellent real-life experience and took all the mystery away from the Lean Six Sigma process. It provided me with tools that I can use in practically every working situation and it was also great to be involved in a project that gave something substantial and meaningful back to my employer.”