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by Lauren Gibbons Paul, Contributing Editor Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 2:46:00 PM   | Abstract: | No corporate-blessed lean initiative? No problem. With a little knowledge, you can use these techniques in the trenches today to cut waste and optimize processes. |
These days, it seems everyone's going lean, and it's easy to see why. Done right, employing lean principles helps manufacturers continuously cut non-value-added activities from their processes and begin producing goods according to true customer demand. Get that down, and your company can thrive. But what if your company hasn't yet gotten the religion, and your management is clueless or skeptical? You're in luck, one of the central tenets of lean is thoughtful empowerment of the people closed to the process -- that would be you. With just a little knowledge and a few ideas, you can get going on your own lean projects. Once you knock off some improvements -- reducing machine changeovers or eliminating a chronic defect, for example -- you just might attract the big boss's attention. You might even save your company and your own job. [Click to continue] |