Getting Better Operations With Lean Management Service
TPS (Toyota Production System) bred the mind set called lean management. Consistent search for excellence and improvement are the embodiments of its philosophy. This was first applied actually to manufacturing; but since then has been grossly applied on every possible human endeavour. Recently, it has been adopted by other entities that are service-oriented in nature; hence, the lean management service.
Lean management service infiltrated the mind set of those in the service who were impressed by the little and big successes that they saw on those who forged ahead. The “service”’ actually refers to “service concept” or “product service bundle” that can flow in a value stream because of the customers whose needs need to be met. “Value Demand” and “Failure Demand” are the central concepts that differentiate lean management service and lean manufacturing according to Seddon.
Value Demand is the demand emanating from the end users. When the demand of a costumer is borne out of dissatisfaction, that is known as “Failure Demand”. That is a form of waste that works against lean principle. Having many things to do because of back jobs and repeat tasks is not considered as productive because they are repetitions of what were done already.
As a company progresses, it becomes imperative to streamline processes to eradicate waste. The wastes or Muda was defined by Taiichi Ohno, the father of TPS and can be regarded as the seven wastes.
*Delay on the delivery of service caused for instance by long queues.
*Redundancy in the tasks, the people doing the tasks or in terms of things.
*Unnecessary movement like going on several shops or counters to get multiple but related services.
*Vague communication that leads to confusion and loss of time due to clarifications that need to be done. Rework and repairs may be resorted in case of misuse of a product or service.
*Undelivered service, costly re-orders, and unsuitable replacements are some possible repercussions when inventory gets all muddled.
*Breakdown in relationship with the costumer may lead to lost opportunities to build new or lose old costumers.
*Blunders in the delivery of defective services or products tarnish reputation and future transactions.
The value of lean management service can save time and many resources, thus making life a little better.