Completed Projects
Let's Talk Science ~ Canada wide Material Disposal Audit
Let’s Talk Science is a National charitable organization which offers STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to students across Canada. They provide a multitude of educational programs, which have resulted in over 13.8 million interactions with youth, educators, and families across Canada since inception in 1993. Their goal is to positively impact every child in Canada and help prepare youth for evolving career and citizenship demands in a rapidly changing world.
Let’s Talk Science is a member of Green Economy London and have been working diligently to reduce their environmental impact. One area of focus has been waste reduction. To make a change they first needed to understand and measure the current impact so they could set targets and identify opportunities for improvement.
They enlisted my help to understand waste management nationwide. They selected a group of their programs to focus on, where educational kits are sent across Canada. These kits contain a variety of materials, from stationery to scientific, with upwards of several hundred different items supporting over twenty programs. We wanted to quantify how many materials could be recycled or composted and the accessibility of those services (curbside, drop off depot, mail in). Most of the provinces and territories do not have standardized recycling, as municipalities are currently responsible for waste management, making a patchwork of available services. Many regions provided infographics, search engine tools, or lists of accepted recyclable materials to cross reference with our list; some required more detailed research through news articles and reports. I was also able to identify some lesser-known recycling programs offered by private companies and organizations.
Once the raw data had been collected for 250+ items across thirteen provinces and territories, I used several methods to summarize and slice the data into different subsets to offer several ways to look at the data. Now it is much easier to analyze the kit materials by product type, region, kit, etc. to help set waste reduction targets, standardize materials, and identify opportunities. With my research I provided a detailed report about waste management in each province and territory, highlighted upcoming changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility, created quick reference resources, and listed recommendations to help optimize waste diversion.
With this insight Let’s Talk Science can understand their current baseline for this group of programs and set goals for increasing the amount of recyclable and compostable materials they use across Canada. I am honoured to have been a part of this project and to work with such an inspiring organization.
Testimonial:
“Heather was very thorough in her work to help Let’s Talk Science understand the waste and recycling options available for our Let’s Talk Science Outreach kits. We are very grateful for the analysis completed and will use it to both set a waste baseline for this area of our operations, and consider the next steps for waste reduction and materials replacement.”
– Cailin Clarke, Vice President, Operations at Let’s Talk Science
Glavin Coating & Refinishing Ltd. ~ Inventory Project
Glavin Coating & Refinishing Ltd is an industrial paint shop providing quality sand blasting and painting to customers across Ontario. Their hard work and success has led to ongoing growth and expansion. In 2021, they realized improving their inventory management would be a key factor in supporting this operational increase. Since every project they take on is unique, and uses bulk paint, it can be difficult to anticipate supply usage. Previously, orders for inventory were placed as needed, on a day-to-day basis via email. This often created bumps in production planning and added stress to the operations.
My time with Glavin was focused on implementing purchasing and inventory management into their existing manufacturing system (JobBoss), in a way which supported their customized needs. The new process covered the entire order fulfilment process from purchasing, receiving, allocation, and shipping. Data was now easily accessible and traceable. Defined skus, stock level triggers, and standardized formatting made communicating their needs to vendors easier and more strategic. We implemented verification processes and regimented counting schedules. The physical inventory of tools and supplies were consolidated, organized, contained for dust protection, and labelled with QR codes, allowing for inventory adjustments on the spot. Additionally, I was able to offer other solutions and best practices regarding transportation, sourcing, waste, and metrics. The project was completed ahead of schedule and I continue to offer on-going support as needed.
This eight week project provided positive operational results to support the growth of Glavin Coating & Refinishing, through both software and organizational solutions. Glavin’s willingness to embrace change shows the immediate positive impact that can be realized when supply chain solutions are implemented.
– Read Matt Glavin’s testimonial here.
