Ian Wilson BEng MSc

Managing Director of IW Process Solutions

Managing Director and Lean expert, Ian Wilson, is a specialist Consultant, Trainer and Mentor who has delivered transformative process, productivity and efficiency improvement across a 30-year career in the manufacturing sector.  He develops bespoke Lean solutions to support operational excellence, working with both multinational blue-chip clients as well as SMEs throughout the UK.   He has experience across a huge variety of industries including automotive supply, chemicals, engineering, food, FMCG, furniture and packaging as well as the healthcare and service sectors, and his clients have included New Balance Athletics, Esse Engineering and Playdale Playgrounds.  He engages both senior leadership and operational teams to drive step-change in business capacity, capability and performance.
 
After beginning his career as a graduate apprentice and working his way up through engineering, production and operation manager roles of increasing seniority, he went back to university to undertake a Master’s in Lean Operations in 2002.  He describes this experience as pivotal in influencing his thinking, deepening his knowledge of tools such as 5S, SMED, TPM and VSM and developing his practice in Lean mindset, leadership and culture.
 
He went on to join The Manufacturing Institute, now part of the Manchester Growth Company, as a Senior Practitioner, working across the government-funded Manufacturing Advisory Services (MAS) contract to provide technical advice and strategic guidance to businesses in the Northwest of England.  He then moved into commercial consultancy before he established his own independent business in 2016, retaining a select number of Associate roles.  
 
Ian creates material for, and facilitates, the Lean Competency System accredited training programme for the Manufacturers Network.  He is passionate about its point of difference as a university-developed and industry-recognised qualification framework which has helped hundreds of learners embed Lean methodology and continuous improvement strategies to impressive effect in their organisations.
 
Ian works in partnership with clients to build trust, generate insight and add value throughout the course of a project, no matter what the scale.  Testimonials reveal what this means in practice – intelligent and good-humoured, he is also resolute and a catalyst for change.  A true believer in the power of Lean, Ian is committed to delivering honest, experience-based and results-driven support to empower manufacturers to be the best they can be.
 
Based in the rolling hills of Cumbria, Ian spends a lot of time on the M6 and like any true Lean practitioner he likes to make his time as productive as possible: a sport and music enthusiast, he tunes into all forms of both while behind the wheel and is the envy of pub quiz teams everywhere.

Our Purpose

We are passionate and committed in supporting companies/organisations to effectively and efficiently manage their resources in order to minimise business costs.

Our Mission

To deliver targeted, cost-effective improvement projects that will achieve maximum return on investment for your business.

Our Values

Honesty; Experience; Results​

Get in Touch

If you have any queries or would like to discuss your consultancy, training or mentoring needs, please do get in touch either by calling us on 07539535253 or by using the contact form below.