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Lean Management
Lean management refers to a technique developed with the aim of minimising the
process waste and maximising the value of the product or service to the customer, without
compromising the quality. It is coined by Toyota Production System, which is a part of
lean thinking.
Lean is possible through distinct techniques such as flow charts, just in time, total
quality management, workplace redesigning, and total productive maintenance. It focuses
on delivering value to customers. A number of tools are deployed by the lean management
system to link customer value to the process and people.
1. Identify value: The value must be ascertained from the point of view of the ultimate
customer by product family.
2. Map the value stream: Ascertain all the steps involved in the value stream for each
product family and then eliminating those steps that are not productive.
3. Create the flow: Ensure that the steps which create value take place in a perfect
sequence, so the product reaches the customer smoothly.
4. Establish Pull: Once the flow is initiated, customers pull value from the next level
activity.
5. Seek Perfection: When the value is specified, value streams are ascertained, non-
productive steps are eliminated and flow and pull are instigated. The process is
started again and continue, till the perfection state is arrived, in which the perfect
value is created with no waste.
Kaizen Management
“Kaizen” refers to a Japanese word which means “improvement” or “change for
the better”. Kaizen is defined as a continuous effort by each and every employee (from the
CEO to field staff) to ensure improvement of all processes and systems of a particular
organization.
Kaizen works on the following basic principle.
“Change is for good”.
Kaizen means “continuous improvement of processes and functions of an
organization through change”. In a layman’s language, Kaizen brings continuous small
improvements in the overall processes and eventually aims towards organization’s success.
Japanese feel that many small continuous changes in the systems and policies bring
effective results than few major changes.
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Kaizen process aims at continuous improvement of processes not only in
manufacturing sector but all other departments as well. Implementing Kaizen tools is not
the responsibility of a single individual but involves every member who is directly
associated with the organization. Every individual, irrespective of his/her designation or
level in the hierarchy needs to contribute by incorporating small improvements and
changes in the system.
Following are the main elements of Six Sigma:
Teamwork
Personal Discipline
Improved Morale
Quality Circles
Suggestions for Improvement
Five S of Kaizen
“Five S” of Kaizen is a systematic approach which leads to foolproof systems, standard
policies, rules and regulations to give rise to a healthy work culture at the organization. The
process of Kaizen plays an important role in employee satisfaction and customer
satisfaction through small continuous changes and eliminating defects. Kaizen tools give
rise to a well-organized workplace which results in better productivity and yield better
results. It also leads to employees who strongly feel attached towards the organization.
Let us understand the five S in Detail:
1. SEIRI - SEIRI stands for Sort Out. According to Seiri, employees should sort out
and organize things well. Label the items as “Necessary”, ”Critical”, ”Most
Important”, “Not needed now”, “Useless and so on. Throw what all is useless. Keep
aside what all is not needed at the moment. Items which are critical and most
important should be kept at a safe place.
2. SEITION - Seition means to Organize. Research says that employees waste half of
their precious time searching for items and important documents. Every item should
have its own space and must be kept at its place only.
3. SEISO - The word “SEISO” means shine the workplace. The workplace ought to
be kept clean. De-clutter your workstation. Necessary documents should be kept in
proper folders and files. Use cabinets and drawers to store your items.
4. SEIKETSU-SEIKETSU refers to Standardization. Every organization needs to
have certain standard rules and set policies to ensure superior quality.
5. SHITSUKE or Self Discipline - Employees need to respect organization’s policies
and adhere to rules and regulations. Self-discipline is essential. Do not attend office
in casuals. Follow work procedures and do not forget to carry your identity cards
to work. It gives you a sense of pride and respect for the organization.
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Total Quality Management
Total Quality Management is an extensive and structured organization
management approach that focuses on continuous quality improvement of products and
services by using continuous feedback. Joseph Juran was one of the founders of total
quality management just like William E. Deming.
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7. Communication
A communication strategy must be formulated in such a way that it is in line with
the mission, vision and objectives of the organization. This strategy comprises the
stakeholders, the level within the organization, the communications channels, the
measurability of effectiveness, timeliness, etc.
8. Continuous improvement
By using the right measuring tools and innovative and creative thinking, continuous
improvement proposals will be initiated and implemented so that the organization can
develop into a higher level of quality.
Just-in-time
The just-in-time (JIT) inventory system is a management strategy that aligns raw-
material orders from suppliers directly with production schedules. Companies employ this
inventory strategy to increase efficiency and decrease waste by receiving goods only as
they need them for the production process, which reduces inventory costs. This method
requires producers to forecast demand accurately.
The JIT inventory system contrasts with just-in-case strategies, wherein producers
hold sufficient inventories to have enough product to absorb maximum market demand.
One example of a JIT inventory system is a car manufacturer that operates with low
inventory levels but heavily relies on its supply chain to deliver the parts it requires to build
cars, on an as-needed basis. Consequently, the manufacturer orders the parts required to
assemble the cars, only after an order is received.
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waste related to transportation
waste from overproduction
inventory waste
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Comparison and Contrast
Similarities of (1) Lean Management, (2) Kaizen Management, (3) Total Quality
Management and (4) Just-in-time are:
Quality. They focus on the quality of their products, services, and operations.
Process Centered. They focus on the operation of the organization and on how to execute
it properly.
Customer Satisfaction: They value the satisfaction of their customer by assuring that they
can provide the right type, right amount and good quality of the product to the customers.
Similarities between (1) Lean Management, (2) Kaizen Management and (3) Total
Quality Management.
Improvement. They emphasize that the organization needs to improve continuously
especially on its operations, finance, management and human relations.
Employees Performance. They take into consideration the performance of their
employees, on how they need to act on the workplace and on how to perform the task/jobs
assigned to them.
Similarities between (1) Kaizen Management, (2) Total Quality Management and
(3) Just-in-time.
Employment Satisfaction. They value the satisfactions of their employees, the importance
of the employees’ involvement on the workplace and the employee’s convenience and
safety.
Timeliness. They also focus on when to use the resources and providing services or
delivering goods to the customer on time.
Similarities between (1) Lean Management, (2) Kaizen Management and (3) Just-
in-time.
Efficiency. They seek efficiency of the operations flow, on how to use the resources and
on how to serve the customer efficiently.
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Similarities between (1) Kaizen Management and (2) Just-in-time.
Inventory Strategy. They give importance to how to manage the inventory system of the
operations, on how to store and use the resources as well as when to use the resources.
Similarities between (1) Kaizen Management and (2) Total Quality Management.
Teamwork. They give importance on how the employees work together to achieve the
objectives of the organization in relation to its missions, visions and strategies.
Suggestion for Improvement. They value the feedback of their employees and customer
to their operations and to their products. These suggestions will be helpful in making the
improvement of the organization.
Similarities between (1) Lean Management and (2) Total Quality Management
Value of the Product. They give importance on giving value, maintaining the value and
improving the value of the products they produced.