Let's talk about your operation
Pick whatever works best for you.
I personally handle every message.
Based in Calgary · Usually responds same day
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt AND THEORY of Constraints specialist· Calgary, AB
I help manufacturers cut costs, boost output, and build lasting operations.
Hi, I’m Eli Latak, founder of Smart Lean MFG. I’m a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Theory of Constraints trainer. I work directly with leadership teams and frontline employees on the shop floor to identify the constraint limiting performance, improve throughput, reduce waste, and build the systems required to sustain results.
30+ years. 380+ projects. One focus: making your operation more profitable.
No obligation · I personally read and respond to every message
Trusted by manufacturers WORLDWIDE
I'm not a big firm. That's the point.
When you hire Smart Lean MFG, you get me, Eli Latak on your floor, working with your team. No junior consultants. No hand-offs. Just 30+ years of manufacturing experience applied directly to your operation.
I help manufacturers find the one constraint limiting overall business performance. Using VSM and TOC, we identify what is holding back throughput, fix it together, and build the systems to keep it fixed.
Lean Six Sigma MBB · TOC Specialist
BDC Certified Consultant — Recognized by the Business Development Bank of Canada, bringing credibility and accountability to every engagement.
What I D
o
How I can help your operation
Each service is designed around one goal: more throughput, less waste, lower operating cost.
Business Assessment & Diagnostic
I evaluate your current state — culture, Lean maturity, processes, and constraints. You get a prioritized roadmap with quick wins and a clear future-state vision. Every engagement starts here.
Business Value Stream Mapping & TOC
I map your end-to-end flow and apply the Five Focusing Steps to locate the single constraint limiting your throughput. We fix what matters most — not everything at once.
Lean Belt and TOC Training
Practical, on-site training from White Belt through Black Belt, plus Lean Management and TOC. Your team learns on real problems in your own facility.
Real-Time Data & OEE
I install, configure, and train your team on production monitoring systems that give 24/7 visibility into machine and process performance — from anywhere, on any device.
CMMS / Maintenance Management
Cloud-based maintenance software to schedule, monitor, and predict maintenance needs. Smart Lean MFG is the authorized distributor for KAIMI's CMMS solutions.
OPEX Execution Support
Ongoing structured cadence — weekly, daily, monthly — to keep improvement on track. KPIs, standard work, and problem-solving routines embedded in your operation.
5-Day Business Support
An intensive on-site engagement combining assessment, training, and a clear action plan — delivered in one focused week.
- Day 1 — Assessment
- Day 2 — Lean Management & TOC Training
- Days 3–4 — Business VSM & TOC
- Day 5 — Recommendations & Report Out
Defense Operations Support
I apply Lean Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints to aerospace and defense production lines — mapping value streams, identifying throughput constraints, and tightening program schedules to meet contract delivery deadlines.
QMS Implementation Support
I guide your team from gap analysis through certification — building ISO 9001:2015-compliant documentation, process controls, and internal audit programs from the ground up, so you walk into certification audit-ready.
Simple process. Real results.
No mystery. No jargon. A disciplined approach to finding and eliminating what’s costing you.
01 · Discover
I Come to Your Floor
I begin with a hands-on walk-through of your operation and a practical review of your process. From there, I identify where flow breaks down and what is truly limiting throughput.
02 · Design
We Build the Roadmap
Together, we map your current state, identify the bottleneck, and create a focused plan to fix it. The goal is not to change everything, it is to focus on the few actions that improve overall business performance.
03 · Execute
We Fix It Together
I work directly with your team to implement the solution.
I support your business with practical improvement methods such as Kaizen events, standard work, 5S, visual management, and other tools required to improve performance and sustain results.
04 · Sustain
You Own the System
I build the routines and training, so your team sustains the gains independently. The goal is not just to fix the issue, but to build your team’s capability so the knowledge stays in your business.
I've worked across manufacturing — chances are I know your sector.
Your operation is losing throughput right now. Let's find out where.
A 30-minute conversation costs nothing. Most manufacturers I talk to walk away with at least one thing they can fix this week.