Lean process management implementation through enhanced problem solving capabilities
Abstract: All Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) organizations in Aerospace, Automotive and
Electronics industries had to upgrade their functions. These organizations
including suppliers and solutions providers are duty bound to improve their
functions through strategic initiatives. One such initiative is Lean Process
Management. Lean Process Management has proven to aid organizations in
developing manufacturing and administrative management solutions and make the
organization a leaner at the same time a ‘fitter’ one, achieving World Class
standards in terms of production, quality, marketing, etc, etc. The issue or
problem is, although a number of authors, experts, researchers have discussed
the lean process management as part organization centric issues, they failed to
provide an effective lean process management system. Besides the need to
formulate an effective lean process as suggested by some authors, another
important reason suggested is the employee’s development aspect regarding how
to unlock the infinite potential of their workforce. This employee’s
development is basically the problem solving capabilities of the employees
while implementing the Lean through clear cutting protocols or processes of
Lean Process Management. The employees need to be developed and equipped to
contribute optimally to the process. Because of this scenario, the main
objective of this study is to develop an employees development system which the
author has acronym or trademark it as People Development System (PDS) to
enhance problem solving capability among its employees while implementing the
lean process management there. Although, the PDS can be implemented throughout
the organization, if it is implemented in a particular department in an
organization, it will be feasible to study and analyze its effectiveness
in-depth. So, this study documents and analyzes the implementation of Lean
process in the Kitting Department of the aerospace company, ABC Company.
Qualitative and quantitative measures were also used to document the case
study. The outcome of the people development system needs to be measured to
understand its value in developing the problem solving capabilities among the
employees. Only with developed and equipped employees, the Kitting Department
can reduce its wastages, optimize its performance and thereby play a crucial
role in making ABC Company a world class organization. As pertinent results of
the PDS implementation, in general Kitting Department successfully achieved to
meet their Department Key Performance Indicator and particularly the employees’
are also improve by practicing good lean behaviors and skill and knowledge in
using lean tools which lead to better leanness level by improving employees’
problem solving capabilities in eliminating waste. On the whole, the lean process
management and the resultant PDS is having positive applications, and
importantly could also have positive applications in the future as well.
Author: Perumal Puvanasvaran,
Hamdan Megat, Tang Sai Hong, Muhamad Mohd Razali, S Hamouda Abdel Magid
Journal Code: jptindustrigg100011
