Luminara & Company Decreases Candle Production Time By 34% With GLSS
Home » Case Study » Luminara & Company Decreases Candle Production Time By 34% With GLSS
Oklahoma
Retail
Operations
34%
- The problem: Luminara & Company faced production challenges in meeting customer demand. This excessive production time frustrated customers with late delivery and low inventory in the store, ultimately impacting the company’s reputation and revenue.
- Determined to fix these issues, the organization partnered with GLSS Green Belt Training & Certification. Our expertise in Lean Six Sigma provided the structured approach needed to reduce production time from 44 to 29 hours per week—a 34% improvement.
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Luminara & Company’s handmade candles bring warmth and charm to homes but crafting them efficiently can be a real challenge. For handmade candle operations, keeping up with customer demand while ensuring top-quality products was becoming a struggle.
The business faced several roadblocks that slowed down production and strained resources. Orders were frequently delayed, and shelves remained empty, frustrating both customers and employees. Hiring additional staff wasn’t financially feasible, leaving the lead candle maker overworked and discouraged. Customers began expressing dissatisfaction with longer shipping times, putting the business’s reputation at risk.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the team knew they needed to find a way to work smarter, not harder. Antonia Dietrich, the project leader, turned to GLSS Training & Certification, a trusted leader in process improvement and operational excellence, to provide the structured approach needed to tackle the challenges head-on.
Through the guidance of GLSS, Antonia and the team conducted an in-depth analysis of their processes and discovered key areas causing delays:
- Wax Temperature Inconsistencies: If the wax wasn’t poured at the right temperature, it resulted in messy, unusable candles that required extra cleaning time.
- Excessive Movement: Constantly moving vessels after pouring led to unnecessary handling and increased production time.
- Poor Production Timing: Making candles in the afternoon resulted in longer setting times and delayed progress.
- Dirty Candle Vessels: Locally sourced vessels require thorough cleaning before use, adding extra steps to the process.
- Rushed Pouring: Pouring too quickly caused spills, requiring more cleanup and slowing down production.
- Idle Time: Valuable time was lost waiting for candles to set instead of using it productively.

Armed with insights from GLSS Training, the team implemented simple yet effective solutions to streamline their workflow:
- Eliminating Unnecessary Movement: Once candles were poured, they were left in place to set, reducing handling time.
- Switching to a Premium Supplier: By ordering vessels directly from a higher-quality supplier, they eliminated the need for pre-cleaning, saving valuable time.
- Using Temperature Labels: These labels ensured the wax was always poured at the perfect temperature, improving quality and consistency.
- Adjusting Production Hours: Candle-making was shifted to morning and evening hours, optimizing processing time.
- Improved Pouring Techniques: Pouring at a slower, more controlled pace minimized mess and reduced cleanup time.
- Maximizing Idle Time: Instead of waiting idly, the team completed other tasks during the wax-setting period, increasing overall efficiency.

Thanks to these process improvements, the business saw remarkable changes almost immediately:
- Faster Production: Streamlining operations and optimizing idle time significantly reduced overall production time from 44 to 29 hours per week—a 34% improvement.
- Higher Quality: Pouring at the right temperature resulted in cleaner, better-quality candles, reducing rework and waste.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: With faster turnaround times, customers received their orders promptly, leading to fewer complaints and happier clients.

The lead candle maker, Antonia, experiences less stress, and the entire team feels more confident in their ability to meet demand. Store shelves are fully stocked, and the business has regained its reputation for timely deliveries.
with GLSS
Luminara & Company proves that even small, targeted changes can make a big impact. By choosing GLSS Training & Certification, the team was able to quickly identify inefficiencies, implement smart solutions, and achieve impressive results in record time.
The innovative instructional design of GLSS provided the team with the knowledge and skills to not only solve their immediate challenges but also to foster a culture of continuous improvement. With a more efficient production process in place, the business is now set up for long-term success and growth, ready to light the way for even greater achievements in the future.
*We value our clients’ confidentiality. While we’ve changed their names, the results are real.

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