Hi, I’m Richard Steel — an independent Lean Management and Supply Chain consultant and coach.
I was fortunate to complete my initial Lean experiences from 1994–1997 with Professor Dan Jones, Toyota, Nissan and Shin-Jujitsu Consulting.Over the past 30 years, I’ve helped businesses and organisations across industries streamline what they do, cut out waste, and build a culture of continuous improvement.
My background includes five years as Managing Consultant at SA Partners and nearly a decade as a director and global consultant with the Kaizen Institute NZ. I’ve even led study missions to Japan and contributed to books like Gemba Kaizen, Creating a Kaizen Culture, and Kaizen in Logistics and Supply Chains.
My experience spans everything from healthcare and local councils to food manufacturing, packaging, and industrial products. No matter the sector, my focus is simple: help teams work smarter, not harder.
I also support clients with supply chain consulting, using Lean principles to deliver practical, high-value solutions that stick.
And because change works best when people grow with it, I offer executive coaching and mentoring too — helping leaders build confidence, unlock potential, and turn ideas into action.
Operations Excellence, Lean Training and Consulting 