"There is no such thing as CAN'T — only we haven't worked out HOW TO yet."
— Dermot Freeman, Master Black Belt LeanFinding genuinely experienced Lean and CI practitioners — people who have actually done it, not just studied it — is one of the hardest challenges facing organisations today. Most companies simply can't find them, let alone compete to hire and retain them on a full-time basis.
This is your chance to have a Master Black Belt with 47 years of hands-on experience working directly alongside your team — developing and implementing real improvements, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. And because of Dermot's natural mentoring approach, your staff don't just watch. They learn by doing. The capability stays in your business long after every engagement ends.
Fraction of the cost of a full-time hire
Senior CI practitioners command significant salaries, benefits and management overhead. Dermot brings that same depth of expertise on a flexible basis — you pay for results, not headcount.
Your team learns as the work gets done
Dermot's natural mentoring style means every engagement builds internal capability. Your people see how it is done by someone who has done it hundreds of times — in their sector, with their type of problems.
No project too small or too big
From a single process improvement to a full-scale CI programme — the approach scales precisely to what your business needs right now, without over-engineering or under-delivering.
Experience beyond the toolkit
47 years of hands-on practice means Dermot brings judgement alongside methodology — knowing which tools to use, when, and crucially when not to use them. That instinct cannot be taught in a classroom.
What a full-time senior CI hire actually costs
A seasoned Lean Black Belt or CI Manager commands a significant salary — before benefits, training, management time, and the very real risk they may leave. Dermot delivers the same level of expertise on a flexible engagement basis, with no overhead and results from day one.
🗺️ CI Strategy Development
Clear, actionable improvement roadmaps aligned to your business strategy — with defined objectives and measurable milestones.
⚙️ Process Improvement & Kaizen
Hands-on facilitation of Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and problem-solving workshops working directly with your teams.
🏗️ CI Programme Governance
Frameworks and review mechanisms that ensure your CI programme delivers sustained results — not a one-off improvement spike.
🤝 Sensei & Leadership Mentoring
One-to-one coaching for Opex leaders and CI champions — building the confidence and capability to drive improvement from within.
📊 Strategy Deployment
Hoshin Kanri, X-Matrix and Bowler Chart implementation — translating high-level goals into operational improvement priorities.
🔍 CI Health Check
An independent assessment of where your CI programme stands — what's working, what isn't, and clear recommendations for what to do next.