Introduction Lean Principles have been essential to numerous organisations all over the world for achieving outstanding results in terms of efficiency, quality and manufacturing times. Large organisations are especially acknowledged to implement lean principles successfully. However, in recent years small and medium sized enterprises have been in emphasis due to their flexibility and capabilities that provides the necessary robustness in the global economic crisis (Matt , 2007). Therefore, this paper will critically appraise and assess two separate case studies by authors Matt and Rauch (2013) and Kumar et al. (2006) respectively. The two case studies, provided by these respective authors, revolve around SMEs in two different countries. This paper will identify lean elements along with their motivations behind their lean implementations and identify the main differences and similarities between the two case studies in terms of general lean literature. Finally, a list of recommendations will be given to each case study and how their individual companies can improve the success of their lean adoption. The Case Studies’ Lean Adoption The first case study is a SME, situated in the north of Italy. The firm started in 1995 and employs around 25 persons. With a small employee size it was very hard to commit too much time to develop a lean production with a two year period in single steps. Since there was limited resource allocation, it was decided that the firm will use a step
Lean manufacturing is the production of goods using less of everything than in mass production: less human effort, less manufacturing space, less investment tools and less engineering time to develop a new product. A company becomes lean by continuously increasing its capacity to produce high-quality goods while
Production practices have had an important role in satisfying the dynamic market. Many approaches have being developed in order to respond effectively to specific business requirements. In fact, some areas of management have focused its study on the overseeing, designing, and controlling the process of production in an effort to find the best methodology that ensures the business success and performance. However, complexities arise in this field because many variables such as costs, inventory, scheduling, suppliers, etc have to be considered in any business. Lean approach and the traditional approach are two points of view that aim to address this complexities, and those will be examined in this essay.
This essay is going to analyze a case study based on lean thinking principles and techniques. It is could divide in four significant parts. First, to outline the definitions of Lean manufacturing philosophy and applied the strategies to achieving, next create future state Value Stream Map, Furthermore justification Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques, which would appropriate, and critically discussed the key successful should his idea to the Evenort Company.
Countess firms have taken up lean production in their manufacturing process. This is because the process is known to have countless benefits when effectively implemented. For lean production to be effectively implemented, some principles have to be considered. These principles have been discussed in detail in this paper. The different principled in lean production as well as the different principles in effective business communication. How they are related and hence how they lead better production and hence better output from the firm.
Comparing and contrasting the implementation of Lean Manufacturing in manufacturing and service industries:...................................................Page no.8-9
Abstract The ‘‘lean’’ approach has been applied more frequently in discrete manufacturing than in the continuous/process sector, mainly because of several perceived barriers in the latter environment that have caused
Process. It can be said that processes currently do not follows any flow structure: production is planned without any solid criteria and there is no single flow route for either materials or machinery. This unstructured work floor causes: joinery department job shops are untidy and congested (joiners are working on several part-finished items at once, single pieces of equipment are shared by 10 or more joiners, joiners try to fit in with each other over the use of machinery, etc.) and big allowance of waste and timbers defects are found around the workshop. Despite of this chaos, it has been identified that the specific case of the manufacturing and assembling staircases follows a repeatable process steps (although staircases are different): cutting timber, sanding, machining and tenoning, which makes this process potentially standardised. Therefore, it can be said that Lean principles can be applied to this process. However, in order to identify the applicability of Lean principles to the rest of the processes, more information should be provided.
The concept of "lean production" was first introduced in The Machine that Changed the World (Womack et al., 1991) to refer to a new way of looking at the manufacturing enterprise. It was distinguished from mass production by its single-minded focus on eliminating waste in all aspects of the enterprise.
Identify the main mistakes that tend to weaken or derail lean initiatives in companies. Assess the authors' suggestions for improving lean implementation.
The application and implementation of lean principles or thinking is a process that requires commitment from every stakeholder in the organization. This process entails commitment to the organization's workers and to the system itself in order to make changes towards improvement. Generally, the implementation of lean thinking is geared towards continuous improvement through the elimination of waste. However, lean management or implementation of the principles sometimes incorporate mistakes that are made by leaders in the execution process. This is mainly because lean leadership appears to be simple though its complex because of the costs associated with it. The mistakes usually occur because of intrinsic complexities of exploring deeply into organizational philosophies, business strategy, psychology, and macroeconomics.
Lean thinking originated within the Japanese automobile industry following World War II and is principally based on the Toyota Production System (TPS). Lean is much more than a combination of tools, methods and principles. It is the mindset of everyone who works within the organization (Drew et.al. 2004). Lean is an integrated system of principles, practices, tools, and techniques that are focused on reducing waste, synchronizing work flows, and managing production flows (Koninget.al. 2006).
The report begins with introducing the lean then presents the theories associated with it further elaborates on the principles, tools, processes and application.
The term ‘lean production’ came about to describe the Toyota production system in the late 1980’s. This came to pass through a research group from MIT who over five years analysed the automotive industry in fourteen countries. It was called ‘lean manufacturing’ rather than the Toyota production system to make it easier for competitors and organizations to adopt this type of system.
The main reason why organizations need to have a strategy to become lean is because of the changes inside their industry. This is occurring from increasing amounts of competition in the global marketplace. For many firms, this is forcing them to seek out ways to: continually innovate, meet customer demands and maximize profit margins. To achieve these objectives means: reducing costs dramatically and being the first to deliver the cutting edge products consumers want. Those firms that are able to achieve these benchmarks will maintain their lead. (Kawaumra 2011, pp. 108 109)
Lean is a conspicuous theory and application which expects the use of a wide range of assets for any reason, other than the production of significant worth for the end client to be inefficient, and subsequently an objective for prohibition. The theory and mindset communicated by an arrangement of standards, supplemented by various devices and systems helps for waste abolition, equipped execution change, stock diminishment, and ideal quality level to the end clients. It is one of the principal and far reaching ideas that add to organizations everywhere throughout the globe to increase upper hand and thrive on the global market. (Čiarnienė & Vienažindienė, 2015)