Lean AI

Practical improvement, supported by AI — where it genuinely adds value

Digital and AI-enabled tools are everywhere. For many organisations — especially SMEs and small teams — this has created as much confusion as opportunity.

Lean AI is my way of helping organisations cut through the noise.

I start with Lean thinking: understanding how work really flows, where time and effort are lost, and what actually gets in the way of good outcomes. Only then do we explore whether digital or AI-enabled tools can help — and if so, how to apply them safely, simply, and responsibly.

This approach avoids expensive technology-first projects and focuses instead on practical improvement that fits your organisation’s size, capability, and goals.

What do I mean by Lean AI?

Lean AI is not about automation for its own sake.

It is about:

  • Making work visible before introducing tools
  • Removing waste and friction first
  • Applying AI only where it supports better decisions, clearer workflows, or reduced admin burden
  • Keeping people firmly in control of outcomes

In practice, this means some organisations get the best results from process improvements. Others benefit from data, analytics, or AI-assisted support. My role is to help you decide which path makes sense — and why.

How I help organisations with Lean AI

1. AI Readiness & Improvement Diagnostic

This is usually the starting point.

Together, we:

  • Clarify how work currently flows across key processes
  • Identify pain points, bottlenecks, and wasted effort
  • Assess readiness for digital or AI-enabled improvement (people, process, data)
  • Decide whether a traditional Lean (Kaizen) approach is sufficient, or whether analytics / AI could add value

You leave with:

  • Clear process maps and insights
  • Practical improvement opportunities
  • A grounded recommendation on next steps — not a technology sales pitch

2. AI-supported process clarity and improvement

Where appropriate, I use AI-enabled tools to support improvement work, such as:

  • Faster, clearer process mapping and visualisation
  • AI-assisted summaries of workshops and discovery sessions
  • Structured support for proposal development and improvement planning

These tools are used to save time, improve clarity, and reduce rework — always with human review and judgement in place.

3. Practical guidance for SMEs and small teams

Many SMEs want to understand AI but don’t have the time, data maturity, or appetite for complex projects.

I help by:

  • Translating AI concepts into plain language
  • Designing small, low-risk pilots
  • Creating simple SOPs and routines teams can actually follow
  • Ensuring improvements fit day-to-day operations

The focus is on confidence and capability, not hype.

What Lean AI is — and what it isn’t

Lean AI is:

  • Practical and grounded
  • People-centred
  • Designed for SMEs and small teams
  • Focused on real work, not theory

Lean AI is not:

  • A promise to automate everything
  • A replacement for good management or leadership
  • A one-size-fits-all technology solution
  • A black box handed over to a consultant

Ethics, trust, and cultural awareness

Using AI responsibly matters — especially in smaller communities and organisations.

My approach includes:

  • Transparency about where AI is used
  • Data minimisation and secure handling of information
  • Human-in-the-loop review of all AI-supported outputs
  • Careful consideration of cultural context, including Māori perspectives where relevant

Trust is built through openness and good judgement, not tools alone.

Who this is for

Lean AI support is particularly suited to:

  • Micro and small-to-medium enterprises
  • Service organisations and community-based teams
  • Owner-operators who want clarity without complexity
  • Organisations exploring AI but unsure where to start

If you’re feeling pressure to “do something with AI” but want to do it thoughtfully and practically, this approach may be a good fit.

Let’s talk

If you’d like to explore whether Lean AI could help your organisation — or whether simple Lean improvements are the better next step — I’m happy to have an initial conversation.

The goal isn’t to use more technology.
It’s to help work flow better, with less waste and more confidence.

[Get in touch to start the conversation]