Learn Continuous Improvement
Lean Continuous Improvement directly creates permanent higher performance throughout factory operations as unwanted wastes and routines are eliminated right away. Without unnecessary time-consuming actions and tasks, production processes quickly become more efficient and more productive. This results in reduced costs, which lead to increased profitability. Lean also encourages constructive involvement of all employees, from the management to the shop floor, in order to improve the company's overall efficiency.
With the ever-increasing global supply chain, companies must adopt new principles in order to reduce their total cost of ownership, or TCO. Lean concepts such as lean continuous improvement, or TCO, have been implemented throughout various industries, including construction, transportation, healthcare, and consumer products. By following a few simple guidelines, you can greatly improve your company's efficiency level while simultaneously saving money in the long run.
The first step toward achieving lean continuous improvement is to make sure all employees understand the purpose of the program. Most manufacturers are aware that lean manufacturing focuses on eliminating business waste through a systematic elimination of inefficient processes. But many of the employees performing these everyday tasks may not be aware of the significant roles that they play in the overall success of the manufacturing process. TCO can be significantly improved if all the parties concerned (manufacturers, suppliers, and customers) work together in harmony. Once they become familiar with each other's needs and expectations, lean manufacturing processes can be put into place to save money and increase efficiency.
In order for manufacturers to successfully implement lean continuous improvement, they must also develop the necessary structures, processes, and leadership to support continuous improvement initiatives. Ideally, the entire organization will be dedicated to supporting the efforts of the different departments, but this isn't always possible. For example, when it comes to improving manufacturing, some of the functions performed by different employees may be better understood by a department or division that is not directly involved in that activity. This allows for more valuable and timely input from employees regarding any problems or questions that they have about the product, as well as providing more efficient answers to customer questions.
The key to lean continuous improvement is having a way to collect data from all of the processes associated with manufacturing. An organized system can then be developed to collect and compare this data and determine what departments and employees need improvement, as well as provide suggestions for addressing their needs. By properly aligning and working with the people who use the different manufacturing processes, the improvements made will be far-reaching and have a far-reaching impact on the quality of the products and services offered.
In addition to the creation of an efficient system for collecting, organizing, and comparing data, lean continuous improvement also requires a rethinking of how certain activities are conducted. Often times, manufacturing techniques and methods are based upon proven successful practices but are no longer used or appropriate for the modern manufacturer. These outdated practices must be identified and replaced with more effective ones. Processes should be rethought and evaluated to determine whether they are still relevant and necessary today. The goal is to make processes more efficient and productive at the same time, but this cannot be accomplished without reducing waste. It is absolutely essential to reduce waste both in production and in manufacturing, something that is impossible with a reduced amount of time and money.
A bpm system can greatly reduce waste in the manufacturing process and improve overall efficiency by pinpointing the problem areas and streamlining the process. Lean manufacturing focuses on reducing defects and waste at all stages of the manufacturing operation to ensure that each and every step of the process is performed as efficiently as possible. The two concepts - eliminating waste and eliminating faulty processes - combine to provide a solution for increased levels of productivity and profitability. Lean manufacturing tools and solutions, which include process mapping and a bpm system, help to identify which processes are inefficient and must be eliminated, and which can be streamlined or improved. As more companies embrace lean, the need for these tools will only grow.
Implementing lean continuous improvement strategies requires not just a willingness to change but also to have the right tools and the right strategy. Some manufacturers have already adopted some of the tools and processes mentioned above. These manufacturers have seen great improvements in their bottom line as a direct result of their adopted strategies. Given the right direction, lean manufacturing principles and processes can significantly improve a manufacturer's profitability, quality of product, and its employees' health and well-being.