By Terry Rayner
The more I read and learn and think about using Lean Thinking, the more I realize that it is not just a continuous improvement program.
“Lean is a business Strategy and unless used in this many will ultimately fail whenever used!”
To use Lean Thinking effectively there must be a goal – a business objective to achieve!
For example in a book/manual/instruction guide/document printing company specializing in offering short run (small quantity) document support to their customers, they must think about the service they are supplying their customers and rethink it to improve the service.
If 50% of what they produce is printed and going into a warehouse to then be stored and pick, packed and shipped at a later date then perhaps the goal next year is to develop a workflow (value stream), so that only 25% of the documents go into inventory and follow that each year until all product produced is 100% as POD.
The advantage to the customer:
- Less cash tied up in inventory
- No redundant (obsolete) inventory
The advantage to the company:
- Reduced footprint (reducing overhead) or releasing space to produce more profitable products
- Reduced labor to manage inventory
- Closer, more valuable relationships with customers
There are probably more value advantages, but I am sure you can see what I am getting it!
By having a Lean Thinking Business Strategy you can now implement Lean methodology to achieve your goals. Organizing around eliminating waste and creating perfection in conjunction with the business goals will make the probability of success much higher!
The strategy (business plan) is “Top-Down,” however, from that point onwards for the goal to be successful the tactics must be worked “Bottom-Up,” so that the frontline teams can make the needed changes in such a way that it delivers satisfaction rewards to them as well.
Rewards that lead to satisfaction are:
- Participation
- Enjoyment
- Fulfillment/Achievement
If asked most of your employees would tell you about a hobby or pastime that they do outside of work that gives them at least two out of these three listed rewards of satisfaction. Attaining these rewards leave the individual satisfied (that is why performing the hobby/pastime is done)!
This could be from playing on a baseball or soccer team, or playing an instrument, or tending their yard… there are hundreds of activities that we choose to meet our need for satisfaction rewards.
The common thread of each is that the participant gets to be part of the activity from the beginning to the end; making the task performed as important as the end result… which they also see.
“Enabling them to enjoy the task at hand, along with achieving satisfaction from the result achieved!”
While at work, we put these same individuals in “departments” where they work on a certain part of the “task” of building a product, while rarely seeing the end result. This “departmental” processing where your employees only rarely see the end result creates a less engaged workforce (unlike their hobby or pastime where they enjoy the task and see and feel the end result).
Lean Thinking includes each employee, bringing them together as teams to help develop solutions that improve and build finished products or services to your customers – leading to personal and team satisfaction rewards!
Imagine an entire company filled with highly motivated, participating employees… then image the performance of this company!
A great book to read that will help you see the benefits of looking at Lean as a strategy rather than a work tool is “Lean Thinking – Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation” by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones.
An Idea for Your Consideration:
As it is getting towards the end of the year, now would be a good time to start building your 2014 business strategies!
And to look at Lean Thinking to ensure you achieve them!
With over 25 years of print management experience Terry Rayner is a Lean Thinking Guru. Using his blend of customer focused philosophies and continuous improvement methodologies he has led companies through major changes to emerge re-energized. Certified in Lean Six Sigma Processes for manufacturing, office and sales environments he is relentless in his pursuit to eliminate wastes, which increase efficiencies and effectiveness; ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction and significant profit growth.
Connect with Terry: Getleanthinking.com / LinkedIn / Twitter
