Why go Lean?

Eunice Cinnamon, Master Engineer for ukfirst goes back to basics and introduces the concept of Lean operating practice.   

Lean describes the processes used within a business and helps to identify areas that can be made more efficient. Where lean processes are properly employed, they can help deliver benefits to everyone involved by ensuring the right materials are delivered to the right place at the right time. 

Flow is a concept at the heart of Lean; all systems and processes are aligned so that value-adding tasks happen in a smooth and uninterrupted manner.  The ideal is to process a single piece at a time, exactly when the customer wants it. 

Going lean means understanding value and removing all waste (or non-value adding activities) from a system.  The ultimate aim is to have no waiting time, no defects, no inventory, appropriate scheduling, and reduction of processing times.  Whilst this has been used to great effect in manufacturing processes, the same approach can be used in all processes from material management and distribution to information flow through offices and customer service.

I would encourage you to stop and think and look at where to take the next step.  Many regard Lean as a journey, a never ending drive for continuous improvement. 

A vital element for all organisations is to start with an assessment of where they are now by conducting an independent business review to achieve an ideal vision for the future. ukfirst can offer this service in the form of diagnostic reviews for companies to highlight areas for improvement.
 
Over the course of the upcoming series of articles, I will highlight some very simple yet highly effective means of helping your business take the next step. 

First will be the basics of workplace organisation. Direction is key, but preparing the workplace is also important.  This systematic and methodical approach aims to organise the workplace in the safest and most efficient manner.  Not only can it create a good first impression and provide a safe and pleasant environment for your employees, it can boost sales, performance and output by about 5%.  This improvement costs very little, yet can reap tremendous results.  It is a visual management tool broken down into 5 stages.
 
Here are a few tips to get you started, best employed when they are led by area leaders but carried out by the teams involved so that ownership is maintained:

1) CLEAR OUT:
Separate out all the things that are not necessary and eliminate and tidy them away. Remove all unnecessary items from the workplace.

2) CONFIGURE:
Sort the essential from the non-essential. Arrange the essential things so they can be quickly and easily accessed and put away. Put all essential items back in a defined place. Put all items that are occasionally required in an ordered place away from the immediate workplace. Throw out all redundant equipment. Consider use of shadowboards, signs, and colours.

3) CLEAN TO CHECK:
Clean the workplace – even around the nooks and crannies where no one goes. This ensures all machines and equipment are kept clean and working and any problems can be quickly identified. 

4) CONFORMITY:
Make cleaning and checking routine.

5) CUSTOM AND PRACTICE:
Once in place, make this part of the daily routine. Review it regularly by auditing and ensuring a process is regularly reviewing actions. Try to constantly improve it and encourage good habits. 

ukfirst can arrange a company diagnostic for you, training and also offer benchmarking  visits to see best practice in action. For further information call 01438 777 801 or email .

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