How to Use Lean Thinking
Lean Thinking is a work process introduced in the 1980s that swept through the business community. A small Japanese auto manufacturer needed a means to compete with the giants of the automobile industry. Toyota introduced a radical new work process that brought their product to world-wide renown. This process, known as Lean Thinking, eliminates waste and empowers front-line workers. Lean Thinking businesses respond immediately to customer requests and optimize across the value chain. Today businesses in diverse industries have adopted the smart business practices of Lean Thinking. These principles are beneficial to small businesses as well as to global corporations.
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Instructions
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Eliminate waste. Waste is anything that does not add value. Your first priority will be to recognize anything that does not add value to your business process or product and eliminate it. An example would be to maintain adequate documentation but not over document. Seek areas to simplify the documentation process.
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Empower workers. Obtain feedback from front-line workers. Utilize team building to create synchronization across the organization. All workers must understand their role in the production process. Employees must feel valued.
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Institute immediate customer order fulfillment. Deliver products to customers earlier rather than later. This does not mean produce shoddy work. This means offer the best-valued product in the shortest possible time without compromising the value of the product.
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Optimize the value chain. Use skilled employees who have been cross-trained to perform multiple functions. This keeps work flow steady when an employee is not available. An example of optimizing the value chain is in a hospital where a ward clerk can also be trained as a certified nurse assistant. This means there will always be a certified nurse assistant or ward clerk on the unit to keep work flowing properly.
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Foster employee loyalty. Constantly assure employees of their value to the organization. Obtain regular feedback by establishing anonymous employee phone lines where they may express opinions without fear of retribution. Lean Thinking establishes value from the top of the organization down to the most low-ranking employee.
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Tips & Warnings
Read more about Lean Thinking principles.
Reflect on how you can utilize these principles in your business.
Learn the meaning of the terms "pull" and "flow".
Do not implement drastic business changes until you understand all the principles of Lean Thinking.
References
Resources
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