How does a business become a Lean Enterprise?
The first step of lean transformation for any organization is to identify where the problems exist in their current business processes. There is usually more than one problem. These problems are stopping the organization achieving its business goals and objectives.
What must a business do?
An organization needs to prioritize their problems. They must first define and identify the activities in the current process. Once the current process has been identified and defined, a company can determine the root causes of the problem and find solutions to eliminate them.
How does a business do it?
An organization will define its current process using a team of employees who have been trained to use Lean tools. Value Stream Mapping is an excellent technique for identifying the activities in a current process. Once the current state has been defined and the waste identified, the team will be able to develop a future state. Next, they will develop an implementation plan to manage the action items and execute the plan.
10-Step Training & Implementation Model
Chris Turner took his knowledge of the Toyota Production System and his hands-on experience helping companies to successfully implement lean principles to improve their business processes. He realized there was no defined system to guide an organization through its lean implementation process. In the 1990s, he designed and developed the “10 Steps to become a Lean Enterprise” training and implementation model. He used the 10 Step model with his clients and found it helped them to get a better understanding of when and how to implement the lean tools and techniques. Chris also designed and developed a road map to demonstrate how an organization could use the 10-Step training and implementation model:
Click the image to see a larger version.
Lean Transformation Starts with Education!
A company starts its Lean Transformation by educating its employees to understand lean principles and how to apply them to improve their workplace.
An important aspect of any Lean Transformation is improvement and this requires change. Employees, supervisors, and the management team must all be on the same page as the change is being implemented.
Change must be managed; it does not occur by chance. Lean Transformation will often require a paradigm shift in the organizational culture, and this can be stressful if it is not managed in the right way. A management team must ensure that the right information is being given to its employees at the right time to allow them to understand what is happening and why it is necessary to do it.
10 Steps to Become a Lean Enterprise
We have a complete lean training and implementation curriculum based on the “10 Steps to Become a Lean Enterprise” training and implementation model that was designed and developed by Chris Turner. He identified the implementation sequence for the lean tools and techniques that delivered the best results:
10-Step Training Model (Click image to see larger version).
For more information about each step in the 10-Step model, click the links below:
Step 1 – Strategy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri)
Step 3 – Workplace Organization
Step 5 – Reduce Process Downtime
Step 6 – Implement a Pull System
Step 8 – Develop Standard Work
Step 9 – Advanced Problem-Solving
Implementing the 10-Step training and implementation model into your organization is the first step towards transforming your business into a Lean Enterprise. We know it, we’ve seen it, and we guarantee it!
10 Step Model Overview Video
In this short video, Chris Turner – Lean Manufacturing Coach gives a brief explanation of the steps in the 10-Step Lean Transformation Training and Implementation Model.