When starting a new project or looking to improve processes it is very helpful to start out with a value stream mapping team. This team can work together to identify opportunities for the project and provide extremely valuable input. Unfortunately, value stream mapping teams all too often end up being more of a waste of time than a help. This is because people choose members of the…
Following the success of lean standards in manufacturing facilities, many office environments have begun attempting to use the same strategies to improve efficiency. Implementations of lean standards in office environments, however, were often done poorly resulting in failed transitions. When implemented properly, however, there are significant benefits to be realized in an office environment. The best way to start this process is to identify common causes of…
Lean strategies in businesses are quite an interesting phenomena because they have been proven to be extremely effective at increasing productivity, yet most companies who attempt to implement these strategies fail within the first few months. There are countless examples of companies having their productivity go up by 20% – 60% when using these strategies. When done properly this increased productivity starts within days or weeks of…
TQM (total quality management) is among the key tools that are often used to facilitate the implementation of the kaizen process. It’s a form of management policy that can be used to work alongside the kaizen principles. Total quality management can be describes as a kaizen process that engages everybody in the workplace. This includes every single person from the highest ranking manager to the simple worker…