Lean Culture at the Heart of Pharmaceuticals: How Darnytsia is Transforming Production and People — Liudmyla Denesiuk Spoke at the All-Ukrainian Manufacturers’ Summit
At the All-Ukrainian Manufacturers’ Summit, the Supply Chain Director of Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company, Liudmyla Denesiuk, presented Darnytsia’s unique experience in implementing the philosophy of continuous improvement and developing Lean culture.
“Lean is not just a set of tools for process optimization. It is a mindset that begins with respect for people and striving for excellence. This very culture makes companies competitive and resilient to change,” emphasized Liudmyla Denesiuk.
During her speech, she spoke about the journey of Darnytsia, which became the first producer in Ukraine to receive GMP certification and now supplies products to more than 20 countries, actively introducing digital and automated solutions.
The main focus was on Lean transformation, which began back in 2016. Starting with SMED projects, the company gradually moved to a systematic approach: implementing 5S, launching Kaizen projects, and building a culture of continuous improvement.
Liudmyla shared the experience of implementing 5S. Over three years, the coverage area of 5S has expanded to more than 100 production and office spaces; over 250 employees are involved in improvement processes, and the number of Lean audits exceeds 700 per year.
In 2023, Darnytsia began introducing World Class Manufacturing (WCM), a global production management model. Cross-functional teams (“columns”) have been created, each responsible for a specific area: functional improvements, autonomous maintenance, quality, energy efficiency, safety, training, technical maintenance, and more.
Liudmyla drew attention to the importance of working with human potential: only employee involvement and shared values allow a company to move forward and adapt to global challenges.
“True Lean starts when everyone feels their value in the company, and their ideas turn into real changes. Lean culture at Darnytsia is not a project, but a journey — a path to flexibility, competitiveness, and resilience. The company continues to confidently follow this path, creating value for clients, society, and the country every day,” summed up Liudmyla Denesiuk.