Lean Production Consulting

Focusing on the value stream and avoiding any waste in the value-added process are the core elements of lean production.

Almost every company has introduced production systems along these two maxims, streamlined processes in production and logistics and thus achieved productivity increases.

However, a closer look at the factories reveals a very heterogeneous picture and still numerous deficits:

• Production systems are often described in a very theoretical and not very practical way or are outdated and are interpreted and implemented differently in different factories
• The introduction often has only project character and is primarily pushed by central offices, roll-outs are missing in the area
• Leaders qualified in lean methods across all levels are rarely found
• Management systems for the continuous improvement of target deviation management as well as for structured problem solving, e.g. shop floor management, are often not fully developed
• Indirect functions and support areas are usually "out of scope"
• Target systems and improvement routines are strongly characterized by internal optimization instead of implementation of market and customer requirements
• Uniform and above all global standards are primarily to be found with regard to technologies, less so at the process level
• Fields of application for the use of digital technologies and the existing "data treasures" are often not defined, a digital roadmap is missing. In most cases there are various "proof of concepts", i.e. individual digital solutions that do not follow a consistent strategy and are not scalable.

However, these weaknesses are countered by demanding goals that have to be met via the operations functions:

• High reaction speed via short throughput times and stable processes
• Flexible and at the same time economical fulfilment of individual customer requirements with high quality standards
• Permanent contribution to increasing EBIT and strengthening the competitive position
• Capacity for horizontal and vertical networking and integration into global production networks

Lean Management Beratung

Consultants of ROI-EFESO accompany the introduction of Lean Production from the initial diagnosis to the sustainable and effective implementation based on a modular consulting approach that is effective both at the level of individual plants and in a global production network.

The focus is equally on three dimensions:

• Development of a lean management system as a framework for content and methodology and implementation of a lean organization
• Establishment of a lean culture (mindset & behavior) in combination with an excellent management system
• Implementation of a performance management system for the continuous measurement of improvement success and lean maturity development

1: Diagnosis, benchmarking and determination of potential (current state)

The first step of a lean transformation program is a quick and structured diagnosis of the initial situation with the following methods and focal points:

• Standardized and modular plant assessments in direct and indirect functions
• Use of scanning tools to assess lean maturity and digital status quo
• Assessment of management systems, lean qualification and change capabilities
• Internal and external performance benchmarking
• Differentiated and sound potential derivation

2: Establishment of top management attention

At the same time as the status quo is taken up in the plants, a key success factor for lean transformation is created - ensuring that lean is understood at management level and defining and anchoring the corresponding roles and responsibilities in the project and day-to-day business:

• Lean and digital initial training for top management and first and second level executives
• Visits to best-practice companies and exchange with their management
• Development of the communication strategy
• Definition of management systems, roles and responsibilities
• Information events for the workforce with a commitment to the lean journey

3: Strategy alignment and target image (Vision and Target)

In order to implement a lean transformation program in line with the strategy and aligned with customer and market requirements, it is necessary to develop a lean vision and a target image as well as to create the content and methodological framework, e.g. in the form of a production system.

This is done in the following steps:

• Workshops with the management to derive the goals, requirements and framework conditions from the corporate and production strategy
• Management workshops to define target status and "transformation guidelines": Lean vision, binding lean principles and principles, combination of lean and digital, integration of indirect areas
• Adoption of a lean organization: central and decentralized roles & responsibilities
• Development or further development of production systems ("Lean and Digital", "Practical guide instead of theoretical work")
• Roadmap for the introduction and detailed planning of the first transformation phase
• Definition of a cascaded KPI and scan system for success measurement and maturity tracking

4: Piloting and start qualification in the field (Quick Impact)

As a first step towards implementation, we recommend the implementation of short improvement initiatives that make the basic logic of different lean and digital principles and their effects easily and quickly visible. This creates transparency, understanding and acceptance and is supplemented by accompanying qualification measures. The focus here is on training middle management and training lean experts and multipliers.

The individual modules in this project phase are exemplary:

• Structurally independent short-term measures to sensitize the base (point-kaizen approach) and make visible the first changes: e.g. OEE improvement, workplace standards, inventory reduction
• Lighthouse projects for streamlining processes and introducing lean concepts (process approach): e.g. cycle optimization, flow concepts, pull control
• Digital pilots for first-time application of smart (IoT) technologies (system approach): e.g. predictive maintenance, digital Q control loops, smart logistics, smart tooling, real time performance tracking
• Policy deployment from management to shop floor, e.g. through shop floor management pilots (physical and digital), development of KPI systems and decentralized problem-solving competence
• Target group-specific qualification: lean and digital methods, transformation and leadership know-how, expert training and
• Programs for training lean experts and multipliers according to the train-the-trainer approach
• Building a collection of best practices
• Planning the rollout (local to global)

5: Roll out and securing sustainability (Sustainable Results)

After the pilots have been carried out and the middle management and experts have been qualified, the basis for the comprehensive rollout within the plant network has been created. This is to be planned in line with the focal points from the production system and by which the anchoring of roles and responsibilities (project and line) is to be ensured.

• Lessons learned from pilot projects and rollout to broader/ larger scopes (value stream approach, cross-functional projects)
• Train-the-trainer concepts with increasing responsibility of internal resources
• Establishment of the central and decentralized lean organization including integration and synchronization with the line organization
• Anchoring of the improvement concepts in the departments and in the daily business
• Development of training concepts for junior managers
• Development of Ko

Numerous ROI-EFESO projects show that the consistent streamlining and standardization of processes and the targeted use of digital technologies and analytics tools based on them can unlock considerable potential for improving operating performance. ROI-EFESO does not rely on standardized approaches, but offers you tailor-made programs on the way to the Lean and Digital Factory.

Our experienced consultants, trainers from our Learning Campus and our Eco-System to leading technology providers support you on your way to operational excellence from a single source.