VMAC is deeply committed to Lean as a fundamental operating philosophy that permeates every level of the organization. Our company’s focus is on streamlined workflows, ongoing process improvement, and delivering consistent value across the business. From industrial design to customer service, our Lean mindset ensures that every step is optimized to eliminate waste, enhance efficiency, and support sustainable growth.
According to bdc.ca, “Lean (also called Lean manufacturing or Lean enterprise) is a structured approach for improving operational efficiency, with a specific focus on reducing non-value-added activity in a business. It can help lower costs, make customers and employees happier, and reduce errors, accidents and delays.”
At the heart of VMAC’s commitment is a company-wide embrace of Lean thinking that extends beyond the production floor. Cross-functional teams including engineering, operations, logistics, marketing, sales, and administration all contribute to Lean objectives. VMAC also emphasizes the importance of continuous feedback and improvement, rewarding team members who identify potential safety issues or propose new ways to eliminate waste.
VMAC's dedication to Lean principles was recognized on a national level when Rafael Marcao, VMAC’s Director of Enterprise Excellence, was invited to speak in June at the Canadian Manufacturing & Exporters (CME) “Embracing Excellence 2025” Lean Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event brought together thousands of leaders, managers, and Lean practitioners from across Canada to exchange knowledge and explore best practices in enterprise excellence. CME is run by manufacturers for manufacturers, led by a national board of directors made up of senior leaders from a diverse group of manufacturers. Raphael’s presentation highlighted VMAC’s journey by sharing one of the successful projects performed using Value Stream Mapping, one of the main Lean Manufacturing tools. Rafael shared his experience in value stream mapping multiple different environments and how to get the most out of this tool.
Rafael has a proven track record of Lean leadership, including a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt earned at Caterpillar in Brazil, and advanced training in Lean Manufacturing Engineering. His role is to shape and execute a cohesive Lean strategy across all departments to strengthen manufacturing capacity while nurturing a high-performance, teamwork-focused culture.
Lean emphasizes empowering every coworker to challenge existing processes and pursue continuous improvement. With systems like 5S, Value Stream Mapping, storyboards, and Kaizen implemented across all departments, Lean is a shared responsibility, reinforced through regular audits, workspace improvements, and recognition of measured results.
”At VMAC we foster the utilization of Lean principles across all departments and multi-functional teams. We are fortunate to have a highly integrated and verticalized process, being able to design for Lean manufacturing, while implementing daily improvements on current processes. Having the expertise to utilize the right tool in the right place will guarantee consistent results. The Lean conference held by CME was a great opportunity to showcase our know-how but also to exchange knowledge with other Lean practitioners in a national-wide event,” said Rafael Marcao.
Lean manufacturing, a concept pioneered by Toyota in the 1930s, remains a foundational principle for operational excellence. While the term “Lean” wasn’t commonplace until the late 1980s, Toyota’s early focus on continuous flow and waste reduction led to the development of the Just-In-Time (JIT) production system. This methodology streamlined every stage of production, from the moment a customer order was received to the delivery of the final product, by eliminating inefficiencies and minimizing downtime.
Just as Toyota’s system fostered harmony across its manufacturing process, VMAC’s commitment to Lean fuels innovation in mobile air compressor systems. By embedding Lean thinking into product development and process design, VMAC ensures dependable performance, efficient production, and unrivaled reliability.