The ‘lean’ philosophies pioneered by Toyota don’t just apply to vehicle manufacturing – or even to motor retailing.

They have a role to play in managing people and at the AM People Skills conference on September 17 David Barr, head of HR shared services at of Standard Life plc, will explain how ‘lean leadership’ can support organisational change and help to improve performance.

“Standard Life have been pursuing the embedding of an exceptional customer experience in all that we do since the early 1990s”, says Barr.

“We believe it is a key differentiator in ensuring long-term sustainable growth and profitability.

"The application of lean thinking techniques, translated from the Toyota system, have been at the heart of this effort and include not only the customer-facing areas but internal business partners such as HR."

Barr will be sharing their journey, successes and challenges with a particular focus on HR management and people issues raised by working in a lean environment at the conference.

The event takes place at the Sopwell House Hotel and is sponsored by the Institute Of The Motor Industry. It is chaired by the IMI’s Chief Executive Sarah Sillars.

Participants include Sytner Group’s Head Of HR, Melvin Rogers; Nationwide Autocentres’ CEO Duncan Wilkes; Phoenix Car Company MD John Maguire; BMW Aftersales Director Steve Nash; Head of the Honda Leadership Institute Neil Fletcher; Stephen Gardner, Director of Apprenticeships at the Learning & Skills Council; and Jim Saker, Director of the Centre For Automotive Excellence at Loughborough University.

IMI executives Steve Scofield, Stirling Wood, Lesley Woolley and Allan Tyrer will also be taking part.

For more information, and a full list of speakers, see the website a www.ampeopleskillsconference.com