Issue10 eMagazine v2 - Flipbook - Page 9
Creating a Continuous
Improvement Mind-Set
Let’s say the general concept of lean manufacturing is
generally appreciated within your organisation – what
are you doing to create a continuous improvement
mind-set?
For continuous improvement efforts to succeed, you
need your entire team to trust in and be committed to
the process. They should also know and understand
their role in it.
• Waste reduction: The reduction or elimination of
waste is a key benefit from lean manufacturing
processes. This, in turn, ensures the sustainability
of a business, as it thrives on utilising less
resources whilst maintaining or even improving its
production capacity.
• More profits: Enhanced productivity combined
with waste reduction and high-quality products
ultimately mean more profits.
• Job satisfaction and employee retention:
Lean manufacturing practices eliminate boring,
unnecessary steps and turn employees into
stakeholders. This meaningful shift helps enhance
productivity, job satisfaction and retention rates.
Consumers benefit from lean manufacturing by having
access to safer, high-quality product options, as well
as better, more efficient customer service.
Lean manufacturers also help their customers by
having a steady inventory and a reduction in the
number of faulty or defective products that need to be
returned.
Any significant change needs to be driven by your
organisational culture – and cultural shifts could be
painful. Therefore, expect some resistance, especially
from people who have been with the company for a
long time and are pretty set in their ways.
But there are ways around this.
Tips on How you can Create &
Cultivate a Continuous
Improvement Mind-Set in your
Organisation:
Talk about
your Vision
in Detail
Make sure you
communicate your
goals to everyone in
your organisation and
continuous improvement
figures. Share your
vision to help your
employees see,
understand and relate.
Consistently talk about your objectives in your
messages and be prepared to answer the following:
• What are you trying to accomplish with continuous
improvement?
• Why are changes being done? Are they necessary?
• How will your employees, your company and your
customers benefit from lean manufacturing?
• How will the changes be implemented?
• How much time is needed to see improvements?
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