When the term ‘Lean Manufacturing’ is mentioned, many will assume this applies exclusively to a setting with machinery, conveyer belts with sparks and steam flying through the air while components fly off the production line by the hand of a robotic operator.
In reality, it is used in almost every aspect of production and supply that the consumer world relies on to deliver its purchased goods.
Lean manufacturing is the methodology applied to drive efficiency in supply chains. This in turn should bring about reduced cost to the supplier and consumer alike.
Industries from pharmaceuticals through to fast food outlets use lean manufacturing to limit the amount of stock they hold at any one time, relying on a ‘just in time’ delivery principle.
Petrol deliveries to forecourts in the UK earlier in 2022 demonstrated that upsets in this process can create shortages to the end user.
Real world events in recent history from the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have seen huge interruptions to this process and so what was relatively unknown before is now a frequently discussed topic at all levels of society due to the commonly shared experiences of lack of goods availability and their cost to the consumer.
Another little-known term, ‘Lean process’ or more commonly known as ‘Continuous improvement’ is a method by which a process is constantly being scrutinised for opportunities to improve with a focus on planning and execution of the proposed changes to allow for swift evolution and efficiency realisation.
Continuous improvement is typically employed for processes that are used by smaller teams and so brings maximum input as the team are usually the benefactors of the change in that scenario.
While affecting smaller teams, the practice is typically practiced business wide and so what is small in scope, grows in benefit to the company as it creates more streamlined activities with teams that are engaged and productive.
Skillnet provide access to apprenticeship courses for operators working in both Lean Manufacturing and Lean Improvement. These courses are designed to give each candidate the best preparation possible so that they can develop their skillsets to bring tangible benefits to their employer from the start of their careers.
Visit our website today www.skillnet.training or call our Business Development Team on 07872601716 or email chelsea.hillis@skillnet.org.uk for further details.