This is where lean manufacturing comes in – where streamlining processes for greater efficiency is a consistent goal. By their very nature, lean organisations practise continuous improvement – that way of looking at methods and processes and finding ways to refine or improve them. Continuous improvement not only offers efficiency gains but also eliminates waste and even possible cost reductions – outcomes that are desirable in lean manufacturing.
Lean manufacturing benefits both the manufacturer and the consumer, so the advantages it offers are manifold.
For the manufacturer, lean manufacturing results in:
Consumers benefit from lean manufacturing by having access to safer, high-quality product options, as well as better, more efficient customer service. Lean manufacturers also help their customers by having a steady inventory and a reduction in the number of faulty or defective products that need to be returned.
For continuous improvement efforts to succeed, you need your entire team to trust in and be committed to the process. They should also know and understand their role in it.
Any significant change needs to be driven by your organisational culture – and cultural shifts could be painful. Therefore, expect some resistance, especially from people who have been with the company for a long time and are pretty set in their ways.
But there are ways around this.
Below are some tips on how you can create and cultivate a continuous improvement mind-set in your organisation:
Make sure you communicate your goals to everyone in your organisation and continuous improvement figures. Share your vision and help your employees see, understand and relate to it.
Consistently talk about your objectives in your messages and be prepared to answer the following:
Your advocates may be at the top (which is great), but it also helps to have early adopters at every level of your organisation. This way, you can depend on them to help others realise how the changes you propose will result in greater efficiencies for everyone. They can also share their own stories regarding their experience with continuous improvement and going lean.
Keep things realistic and to scale. It may actually be better to start small. Trying to adopt an entirely new system can lead to confusion and resistance. Instead, keep your initial lean process improvement steps easy and simple.
When everyone sees the beneficial results, even those who were resistant in the beginning could turn into change advocates. More people in your organisation will also be ready to embrace further changes.
Document and keep track of your organisation’s experience with lean process improvements, no matter how big or small. Share the results with each team and acknowledge both individual and group contributions.
Doing these things will work wonders in convincing those on the fence about change being good. Others will also feel motivated to contribute to your drive for a lean manufacturing process – whether it involves adopting a new technique or technology.
Martin Thomas, European Marketing Manager at Radwell International Ltd explains more. “As you traverse the route to lean manufacturing, remember to be patient. It doesn’t matter if you are trying a new strategy, technique, material or technology. Change can take time. But if you implement the tips shared here, you’ll be on your way to becoming lean.”