Increased Capacity and Production through Lean Six Sigma Training

Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of unique therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Clene Nanomedicine has innovated a novel nanotechnology drug platform for the development of a new class of orally administered neurotherapeutic drugs. This new technology will improve cellular energy production in the setting of disease-related stress resulting in neuroprotection, neurorepair and remyelination. Through this technology and further development, Clene is hoping to change the way diseases are treated and improve outcomes for patients.

Clene approached Maryland MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, for assistance in helping to improve processes, increase production and obtain a more standardized approach to production enabling the organization to scale effectively and efficiently. 

In support of this, the Maryland MEP team delivered Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training to support Clene and provide training to the organization on the principles of Lean Six Sigma and its potential impacts on the operations. Clene’s participants were able to complete the program as Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt practitioners. Additionally, through the project work the organization was able to increase production capacity to produce 8,600 additional bottles of medication each year from just 12 troughs. In the next few years, the organization expects to scale up to over 400 troughs, a nearly 500x increase in production. Through the training and project work, the Clene team also identified and realized $8,600 in annual cost savings in the warehouse operations. Clene is looking to expand and train additional personnel and continue the implementation of the process.