Keeping Current with Lean Methodologies

Lean Management embraces the core concept of Kaizen: Continual growth and improvement. Working in a lean environment means never standing still. You are always seeking to find new and better ways to:

  • Improve productivity
  • Reduce waste
  • Save time and money

In order to keep your Lean systems running at full potential while still moving forward, you will need to establish and maintain a continual training and review program that will:

  • Help introduce new hires to your Lean installation
  • Keep the existing work force current with the developments of Lean methodologies around the world
  • Reinforce the core principles of Lean

Enna has number resources that can be integrated into an ongoing training and review system.

Lean Videos:

The Enna catalog contains several series of videos, many of which cover subjects that ere part of setting up in your organization. These represent the most up to date information on Lean topics available in an easy to use and access format. Subjects available include:

  • Introduction to Lean: This series is important for new hires who have not worked in a Lean environment before. It will help to get them familiar with it’s concepts, vocabulary and procedures.
  • 5S: The 5S methodology is core to almost all Lean environments and is a must for new workers who will need to interface with your existing 5S based systems.
  • Time and Motion Study: Any productivity system requires accurate and effective metrics in order to work and, more importantly, adapt and improve. This video series will discuss both innovative and time tested methods for getting the measurements that you need for a truly effective Lean system.
  • A3 Problem Solving: Considered by many to be the ‘next step’ to take after implementing Lean methodologies in your organization, the A3 video will teach you a systematic approach to identifying, documenting and solving problems in your workplace.

Lean Books:

Video courses are valuable and a great way to teach processes and procedures, but the very visual nature that makes these resources so valuable often are weak when it comes to detail and conceptual communications. There remains a need for written material that can go into greater depth on a given subject, a medium where the user is encouraged to read and reread a section until the meaning is clear. Some of the subjects covered by Enna Lean books include:

Lean Origins and Thinking: Two related series of books that go into the origins of the moment, and discuss in detail the thought process behind successfully Lean implementations. Titles included are:

  • Forging a Kaizen Culture
  • The Principles of Scientific Management
  • Idea Generation
  • Twelve Keys to Sustainable Company Success
  • Value Stream and Process Mapping

Lean Healthcare: This book outlines strategies and techniques for implementing principles in a healthcare environment.

Visual Management: This series gets down to the meat of Lean methodologies and includes titles like:

  • Mistaken Kanbans – Why the Toyota System is not Working for You: A book that looks into where you may have taken a wrong turn in designing and implementing your Lean systems.

Enna.com have a number of Lean Books that guides you about Toyota System, that looks into where you may have taken a wrong turn in designing and implementing your Lean systems.

About Prof Janek Ratnatunga 1129 Articles
Professor Janek Ratnatunga is CEO of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. He has held appointments at the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Australian National University in Australia; and the Universities of Washington, Richmond and Rhode Island in the USA. Prior to his academic career he worked with KPMG.
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