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FAQ: What is Lean Management System? |
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A Lean Management Systems (LMS) is a project management tool that allows for the centralization of data storage and management for a lean transformation. TLR Solutions uses a LMS as a conduit of information transfer and storage with its clients. TLR Solutions clients get a three-month subscription for free to the TLR Solutions LMS. After that, the monthly fees are very reasonable.
Click here for a free tour of TLR Solutions Lean Management System.
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FAQ: Is kanban the only technique used to replenish materials in a lean environment? |
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NO
The most common technique referred to when the term kanban is used is the two-bin kanban. It is by far the simplest and it is very effective. But here is the problem: Its universal application (very common with rookies) assumes that you will have EVERY PART YOU WILL EVER NEED TO BUILD EVERY PRODUCT YOU WILL EVER BUILD. How do you like that idea when you have products that you build twice a year? There are many other techniques, like the use of One-time use kanbans or materials sequencing that applies to the many other materials replenishment situations a business is likely to face.
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FAQ: Is Six-Sigma compatible with the Lean Roadmap? |
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Absolutely. It is all a question of priorities. Let's start by understanding what Six-Sigma is all about. Hey! You are in luck, the guy answering your question used to be a College Professor in Statistics!
Six Sigmas represent the deviation from the center in a Normal distribution that cover 99.99975% of all possible occurrences. The more you cover under your distribution, the more predictable your process is. Now, the next step is to figure out a way to reduce the variability of the process (make sigma a smaller number) so the distance covered by the six sigmas is shorter. So, in short, Six Sigma should be about reducing variability at the process level.
Why do we start by saying that it is all a question of priorities? Because Six Sigma should trail the linking and balancing of processes. The basic idea behind this is that there is no point in making individual processes faster, when there is no impact to the customers. As an example, in an electronics environment, what is the point of making PCBs faster if the assembly, testing, and packaging functions cannot deal with them? First, link and balance all the processes, then apply a series of continuous process improvement techniques to the individual process, with Six Sigma being one of them.
Some "experts" like to put it in terms of "Lean first, Six Sigma later" we disagree with that statement because it establishes a race between two competing schools of thought. Do not allow this kind of thinking to confuse you. That is why you will see Six Sigma in the Lean Roadmap. It belongs in there. It is not the first thing we do, that is all.
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FAQ: Can the Lean Roadmap be applied to Healthcare? |
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The Lean Roadmap has been applied successfully to healthcare applications. So far we have had experience with Cath Labs, GI Labs, Sterile Processing of Surgical Instruments, ORs, and a variety of Administrative processes like Patient Financial Services. The need to optimize processes by eliminating waste is a universal need. There are a few nuances, though, when it comes to healthcare processes that focus on patient care. When we are looking at the volume definitions, for example, you have to make sure that you differentiate between a patient and a case. The other important issue is to exercise patience with healthcare folks, as they have no experience in waste elimination and they have not yet felt the competitive pressures that the rest of us have.
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FAQ: What makes the Lean Roadmap different from the all the “proprietary methodologies” out there? |
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The Lean Roadmap is not a secret; it is available for all to see, to use, and to enjoy its benefits. There are no obscure formulations or tiresome foreign languages to learn. Our approach to dissemination of knowledge is different from that of our competitors; we believe in the free flow of information.
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FAQ: Can the Lean Roadmap be applied to the office? Do you have any experience? |
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It absolutely applies to office environments. We are very aware of the fact that many consulting firms will tell you that this is possible (in theory…) but have a very hard time pointing to a specific implementation. Our experts have experience in office implementations with tangible results.Please, click here to review an article titled “Flow in Administrative Processes” we published on the subject under “Links”.
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FAQ: Do I need Software to implement the Lean Roadmap? |
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No, software is not a necessity to implement the Lean Roadmap. As a matter of fact, we meet new clients every day that claim to have been hurt, sometimes substantially, by prior “Flow Software” implementations.
The interesting fact is that there is still a need for a formal solution to many of the sustainability problems, like:
· Data ownership, consistency, and maintenance.
· Dynamic changes in resource needs due to business conditions or product introductions.
· Changes in materials needs due to market conditions like seasonality or the introduction of new products,
to name very, very, very few. These give you a small sample of conditions that would require you to almost redo you line or kanban design every time conditions change or you make process improvements. No wonder some people give up and let their Lean efforts decline and fizzle out.
So, as you can see, we see the need for a formal system to address sustainability issues. At the same time, we have no recommendations. Actually, at this time we have only warnings… Stay tuned, we will let you know when a good one comes along.
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FAQ: Can the Lean Roadmap be customized for my company? |
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Absolutely. Start with the project management file (Open Workbench) file we provide for free under "Links" and add all the details that are relevant to your business. The next step is to make sure that your Phases, Activities, and tasks are properly linked, so you can track the project’s progress. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at
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and we will help you explore options to customizing the Lean Roadmap.
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FAQ: Is the Lean Roadmap a rigid “one-size-fits-all” approach? |
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No, the Lean Roadmap is the result of many years of combined experience to provide a flexible structure to the implementation of Lean in our clients’ businesses. Not two projects are the same, and trying to repeat a recipe from project to project is a "recipe for disaster". The steps, however, as well as the tools required to analyze data and reach conclusions are the constant from project to project and can be learned by the implementation team.
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FAQ: Do you have a catalog of services? |
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Please, check out the Links section for an ebrochure of our Lean Roadmap workshop. As additional courses and service offerings are created, we'll be adding them to this website.
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FAQ: What's the difference between Lean and Flow? |
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Flow manufacturing is the core element of Lean Manufacturing. When we use the term Flow Manufacturing, we're referring to the proven process from designing a flow line or cell by linking and balancing the work content in its processes, and for designing a material Kanban system. Phases II through IV on The Lean Roadmap cover the details of Flow Manufacturing.
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