Lean is a mindset, a best practice, a new way of thinking and living. Living Lean is a way to make everyday tasks and processes easier and more efficient. We also refer to Lean as a journey – one that begins with asking “Is there a way to do things better?” This one simple question will help identify inefficiencies and reduce waste from our processes, ultimately improving our customers’ and partners’ experiences while delivering measurable results.
Lean isn’t just for our warehouse operations. It can be applied in every area and every process within our business, throughout our entire organization. The goal is to provide long-term success for everybody — customers, vendors, associates and other stakeholders. In fact, many of our customers and vendors use Lean principals in their own businesses and by following the same principles, we will be better aligned.
The best way to get started is to look at your everyday tasks. Are there steps you’re taking that don’t add value? Are you doing things a certain way just because they’ve always been done that way? Then connect with your team and explore if there is a better, more efficient way. Many of our groups, including HR and Finance, have already asked those types of questions and reworked many of their processes to eliminate waste and streamline the path to success.
The sites and teams that have already implemented Lean principles have seen cost savings, reductions in time spent, elimination of process redundancies, implementation of new systems and other material and measurable benefits. For example, our team in Straubing, Germany has implemented new warehouse processes based on Lean learnings, resulting in a safer, more predictable and more productive workplace. By implementing relatively simple changes to their receiving dock, they were able to make the work space easier to operate in and more efficient. The absolute performance metrics showed significant improvements after the changes were made. The key performance indicator, inbound pallets processed per labor hour, went from a pre-Lean level of 3.2 to 5.16, a 62% improvement.
Want to learn more? Contact Anil Nair, our global Lean leader or one of the regional contacts listed here: Chee Kong Wong in APAC, Santiago Londono in LATAM and Paul Klompe in Europe.
Be courageous and entrepreneurial…let us know how you are living Lean!