Lean Manufacturing

The core idea is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste. Simply, lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources (LEInstitute, 2006). To date, its amazing how the seven wastes have never struck me as much of a bother prior to this lecture and their classification acrynoymed WOOD-TIM would more than once pass without a comment. Lean manufacturing brings to the plate thinning out unnecessary processes be it Man hours, through to excessive quality control right down to unconscionable lead times.

The Lean Institute further argues that, a lean organization understands customer value and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it. The ultimate goal is to provide perfect value to the customer through a perfect value creation process that has zero waste.

While this is done, management get expunged with the prospect of making client satisfying decisions and at times over looking the very fuel that drives the investment vehicle; the workers. In lean, we realize that waiting and long lead times as a type of waste and this is closely tied to workers and their motivation to produce.

The PODCAST technology bring a real life experience in the sense that, it eliminates 'wait-time' but at the same time delivers in real-time a message for quality improvement. If explored further, this technology could be used very effectively side by side in Lean manufacturing for effective results. My organization though not as technologically advanced on the global scale, uses communication tools such as tele-conferencing and intra-net to a great effect to name but a few. It has become necessary for this tool because half the time the top brass are out of station and serious decision have to be made hence the need for this technology.

To a greater extent, lean can also be applied as part of the company PDCA model but would need an astute follow up and rigorous education to totally eliminate organizational waste.

References

Lean Enterprise Institute Retrieved from http://www.lean.org/whatslean/

http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/b/6/2b676cdb-5fbc-4290-acd8-bdbcfd7e60df/Americas Business Lean Manufacturing SEG3.mp3

Mwiche