scholarly journals An empirical research on achieving success with Lean

Several companies apply lean manufacturing however the implementation in organizations is not always successful. One of the difficulties is deciding which of the lean approach to avoid the failure; therefore this paper reviews the key concepts and attributes of the lean paradigm, and identifies how they can be applied to ETP’s current operational practices. The study results show a successful lean transformation case study. Practically, this is a comprehensive guideline for practitioners to implement Lean in their organizations to make better decisions.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samah Elrhanimi ◽  
Laila EL Abbadi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the “Assessment Model of Lean Effect” (AMLE), a theoretical model that measures Lean manufacturing implementation effect over the global performance of a company.Design/methodology/approachAMLE model is divided in two criteria types: the “Facilitators criteria” and the “Results criteria”. “Results criteria” are inspired from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and ISO 26000. The “Facilitators criteria” are based on the main philosophy of the Lean manufacturing, which is the total elimination of all types of waste. The development of the scoring scale was based on the results, approach, deployment, assessment and review (RADAR) philosophy and the experience of nine consultants from the automotive field; the choice of the consultants was based on three conditions. Furthermore, each consultant has his\her own weight according to its expertise. Lastly, the AMLE was validated via a case study set in an automotive industry company called FEBA. The validation process is divided in two different steps: the first step is related to Facilitators assessment and scoring; via the evaluation of the different projects implemented by FEBA to eliminate the different types of waste. The second step concerns Results assessment and scoring, via the evaluation of the performance measurements used by FEBA to assess the effect of the Facilitators' implementation.FindingsThe developed model (AMLE) enabled the Lean manufacturing effect assessment on the global performance of a firm from the automotive field. The case study results reveal that the aforementioned firm does not give priority to social measurements. Consequently, the performance of the firm was negatively impacted.Research limitations/implicationsThe criteria of AMLE are inspired from the definition of the Lean manufacturing given by Taiichi Ohno, from ISO 26000 and from GRI; meaning that these criteria could be adjusted if other references existed or developed. In addition, the scoring rules are established according to the experience of a limited number of consultants from the automotive field. The scoring rules establishment would lead to meaningful outcomes, if the number of participants was increased. During the assessment of the global performance, the perception of the auditor plays an important role in terms of scoring because the scoring rules allow the possibility to the auditor to give from the minimum to the maximum of the score, according to his perception and experience. For the case study, the validation of the developed model requires starting with the “Facilitators” implementation process and then measure the generated global performance. However, due to time constraints and limited opportunities for new projects, the validation was based only on existing projects managed by the firm. To address the study limitations, it is envisaged to detail and explain the scoring rules while extending the number of consultants. Furthermore, the assessment of Lean manufacturing global performance through the AMLE model may be subjective and requires a mathematical modeling. In fact, the Lean manufacturing performance assessment via the developed model could have a degree of subjectivity; that is why the design of a mathematical model seems required.Practical implicationsThe research findings may direct practitioners and decision makers to the importance of assessing the global effect of the Lean manufacturing on the overall performance of the firm. The AMLE model is a tool allowing the assessment of Lean manufacturing effect over economic, environmental and social performances.Originality/valueThe developed model is the first one assessing the global performance generated by the elimination of waste via the application of the Lean manufacturing.


Author(s):  
Sagil James ◽  
Alejandro Cervantes

Abstract Lean manufacturing practices focus on minimizing all forms of waste from the production system. The applicability of lean manufacturing concepts and principles has often been questioned in sectors including aerospace manufacturing primarily due to their high variety - low volume environments. The key challenges include the difficulty in changing the factory layout, lack of plant-specific manufacturing strategies, lack of benchmarking between manufacturing plants and non-existence of learning through experimentation culture. Consequently, the aerospace manufacturing industries have struggled to implement lean principles over the years successfully. Industry 4.0 is a new paradigm that is significantly influencing several manufacturing industries across the globe. Applying the concepts of Industry 4.0 along with the conventional lean transformation technology could potentially address these challenges. The focus of this research is to study the possibilities of integrating Industry 4.0 tools with existing lean manufacturing philosophies within the aerospace manufacturing sector in order to improve various aspects of manufacturing processes in a cyber-physical environment. A case study is performed considering a quality inspection department in a typical aerospace industry. The case study is simulated using discrete event simulation tool — Arena. The study found that a hybrid approach involving the holistic merger of the lean principles along with the Industry 4.0 tools known as Lean Industry 4.0 is the best way forward for the aerospace manufacturing sector. The outcomes of this research provide an understanding of the role of industry 4.0 paradigm and their implementation in several other high-technology and high-risk manufacturing sectors including life sciences, space, and defense industries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukka Majava ◽  
Tiina Ojanperä

AbstractThe competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is vital for the European economy. Also, manufacturing is often the core competence of SMEs. Adopting lean philosophy is a viable and popular approach for developing production and enabling continuous improvement. Despite the increased interest in empirical lean research, the body of knowledge about lean manufacturing development in SMEs is currently insufficient. This paper describes a study of a lean development project in a Finnish-based manufacturing SME. A current state analysis and development proposals are presented. The project applies a framework that other SMEs can utilize in identifying their problem areas and creating development proposals for their production activities. The results of the study contribute to the existing body of knowledge in lean manufacturing. In addition, managers in SMEs can utilize the study results as a reference when designing production development projects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  

Lean manufacturing and work study are both popular and have been widely applied to achieve quality and productivity improvement in several industrial sectors (automotive, health care, and etc.) with high success. Previous studies found that some researchers apply lean manufacturing techniques only, whereas others apply only work study. But not all, some studies have used both techniques for productivity improvement. Therefore, a number of questions remain concerning the gap between the applications of these two techniques. The aim of this research is to fill the gap between these two techniques by reviewing the relationships, differences, and similarities between these two techniques; the results of the two techniques' applications to real case, studies and outbound logistics activities will also be reviewed. A literature review has been conducted to gain an overview of both techniques. Moreover, the case study have shown that both techniques demonstrate enhanced productivity performance. The case study results indicate the relationships, differences, and similarities between the techniques and the benefits of each. In fact, lean manufacturing techniques provide a good overview of processes, whereas the work study techniques focused on critical areas. The effects of applying these techniques are contrasted. Finally, time spent and cost were reduced at the outbound logistics stations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourenildo W.B. Leite ◽  
J. Mann ◽  
Wildney W.S. Vieira

ABSTRACT. The present case study results from a consistent processing and imaging of marine seismic data from a set collected over sedimentary basins of the East Brazilian Atlantic. Our general aim is... RESUMO. O presente artigo resulta de um processamento e imageamento consistentes de dados sísmicos marinhos de levantamento realizado em bacias sedimentares do Atlântico do Nordeste...


Author(s):  
Konstantin Aal ◽  
Anne Weibert ◽  
Kai Schubert ◽  
Mary-Ann Sprenger ◽  
Thomas Von Rekowski

The case study presented in this chapter discusses the design and implementation of an online platform, “come_NET,” in the context of intercultural computer clubs in Germany. This tool was built in close cooperation with the children and adult computer club participants. It was designed to foster the sharing of ideas and experiences across distances, support collaboration, and make skills and expertise accessible to others in the local neighborhood contexts. In particular, the participatory-design process involving the children in the computer clubs fostered a profound understanding of the platform structure and functionalities. The study results show how younger children in particular were able to benefit, as the closed nature of the platform enabled them to gather experience as users of social media, but in a safe and controlled environment.


Author(s):  
Michael W. Pratt ◽  
M. Kyle Matsuba

Chapter 6 reviews research on the topic of vocational/occupational development in relation to the McAdams and Pals tripartite personality framework of traits, goals, and life stories. Distinctions between types of motivations for the work role (as a job, career, or calling) are particularly highlighted. The authors then turn to research from the Futures Study on work motivations and their links to personality traits, identity, generativity, and the life story, drawing on analyses and quotes from the data set. To illustrate the key concepts from this vocation chapter, the authors end with a case study on Charles Darwin’s pivotal turning point, his round-the-world voyage as naturalist for the HMS Beagle. Darwin was an emerging adult in his 20s at the time, and we highlight the role of this journey as a turning point in his adult vocational development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie E. Filer ◽  
Justin D. Delorit ◽  
Andrew J. Hoisington ◽  
Steven J. Schuldt

Remote communities such as rural villages, post-disaster housing camps, and military forward operating bases are often located in remote and hostile areas with limited or no access to established infrastructure grids. Operating these communities with conventional assets requires constant resupply, which yields a significant logistical burden, creates negative environmental impacts, and increases costs. For example, a 2000-member isolated village in northern Canada relying on diesel generators required 8.6 million USD of fuel per year and emitted 8500 tons of carbon dioxide. Remote community planners can mitigate these negative impacts by selecting sustainable technologies that minimize resource consumption and emissions. However, the alternatives often come at a higher procurement cost and mobilization requirement. To assist planners with this challenging task, this paper presents the development of a novel infrastructure sustainability assessment model capable of generating optimal tradeoffs between minimizing environmental impacts and minimizing life-cycle costs over the community’s anticipated lifespan. Model performance was evaluated using a case study of a hypothetical 500-person remote military base with 864 feasible infrastructure portfolios and 48 procedural portfolios. The case study results demonstrated the model’s novel capability to assist planners in identifying optimal combinations of infrastructure alternatives that minimize negative sustainability impacts, leading to remote communities that are more self-sufficient with reduced emissions and costs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4851
Author(s):  
Ming-Hui Liao ◽  
Chi-Tai Wang

The chemical industry has sustained the development of global economies by providing an astonishing variety of products and services, while also consuming massive amounts of raw materials and energy. Chemical firms are currently under tremendous pressure to become lean enterprises capable of executing not only traditional lean manufacturing practices but also emerging competing strategies of digitalization and sustainability. All of these are core competencies required for chemical firms to compete and thrive in future markets. Unfortunately, reports of successful transformation are so rare among chemical firms that acquiring the details of these cases would seem an almost impossible mission. The severe lack of knowledge about these business transformations thus provided a strong motivation for this research. Using The Open Group Architecture Framework, we performed an in-depth study on a real business transformation occurring at a major international chemical corporation, extracting the architecture framework possibly adopted by this firm to become a lean enterprise. This comprehensive case study resulted in two major contributions to the field of sustainable business transformation: (1) a custom lean enterprise architecture framework applicable to common chemical firms making a similar transformation, and (2) a lean enterprise model developed to assist chemical firms in comprehending the intricate and complicated dynamics between lean manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainability.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document