Organisations might well be enthusiastic about being lean, but where do they turn to when they want to use that attitude to improve? Analysis of the current position is not a bad starting point. Directed effort can result in the sweating out of bad and wasteful practices, and rehydrating the organisation with value adding solutions.
A lean organization shows that it is committed to its customers, and strives to minimize waste by focusing all of its resources on producing the best possible value for those customers. All “white noise” that does not add any value is cut away, leaving departments and employees who directly affect the excellent finished product. Almost any organization can be made lean, but it needs to keep its mission in clear focus.
Using DMAIC is a method that lends itself well to organisations becoming lean
Work out exactly what it is that is being done. Take a fresh view on working practices and see which of them can be axed without any resulting inconvenience to the customer. Would local supply of a service or material save time over a distant one?
Make sure that all your people are doing the right thing for the production of the final customer product or service. If old practices are removed because they are no longer fit for purpose, then the people can potentially be more effective in other areas.
An organisation’s people normally have a better understanding of their jobs than those more removed from the front-line. This resource of knowledge is invaluable, and will contribute meaningfully to the solution of any problems the organisation has in their area. The ability to grow in a job can act as effective training and development for the future leaders of the organisation.
Continually revise methods of operation. This action is one that is cyclical in nature, and will identify improvements and refinements in processes in a sustainable fashion. When an organisation’s people are all reviewing what they do in a controlled manner, then the facility to be better every day becomes ingrained within the organisation culture and its DNA.