What is a Value Stream?
"A Value Stream is the sum of all the activities necessary to create, order and produce a product or service." A Value Stream begins and ends with the Customer. The starting point of the Value Stream is when the customer makes a purchase or submits a request for a...
What are ERP Systems?
Are you struggling within your organisation to scale your processes? Is your business overly reliant on excel spreadsheets that only certain people within your organisation know how to read and edit? Is your team heavily reliant on emails and phone calls to move...
What Makes a Good Problem Statement?
To answer this question, we must first understand why it's important. Human experience, learning and wisdom have provided us with an understanding of why it is essential. In reality, we can be slow to recognize problems, this can be due to a number of factors: Speed...
What is “Load shifting” and why will it give your organisation a competitive advantage?
"We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it."Barack Obama, Former US President As I was walking into work the other day passing out all the cars that were stuck in traffic it got me thinking...
8 wastes in every business
There are wastes in every organisation but what are they? There are 8 wastes in every business that lead to inefficiency. A core principle in lean thinking is the provision of value for the customer and the elimination of waste. Waste can come in the form...
Why do I need 6S?
You may have 5s or 6S being discussed and wonder, "What is 6S?", take a minute to read our companion blog. We define 6S as a Lean process improvement technique that aims to optimise efficiency in the workplace. So now you know what 6S is, now you may be asking...
What is 6S?
Have you ever been in the middle of a job and not been able to finish because you can't find a particular tool? Have you ever run out of printer ink because nobody knew they needed to order replacements? Can't find that file you were working on last week? Did it delay...
What is a digital vision?
Your organization may well have a purpose and values well communicated with all stakeholders. A digital vision, however, is different. It's also, forward-looking and defines "who we want to become" as an organization considering emerging technologies. So you have...
Understanding the Five Principles of Lean
The primary principles related to lean originate in manufacturing practices but nowadays are used to innovate in the world of knowledge management. Lean fosters continuous improvement while keeping respect for people at the centre of its ethos. The primary principles...
How to Make and Use a Fishbone Diagram Template
Fishbone diagrams are a very helpful tool in your problem-solving arsenal. It is used to figure out cause-and-effect and to breakdown the contributing factors of an issue. They are named for their shape which, when completed looks like a fish's bones. A fishbone...
What is Lean?
Enhancing value for the customer is the essence of "Lean". This means delivering what the customer needs, when it is required and at the best possible price. Lean offers a structured methodology that maximises value for the customer through the elimination of waste...
The Lean Principles
Lean is defined as a methodology which maximises value for the customer by eliminating waste from a company's activities. Below, we will identify the five Lean principles to provide a path for the implementation of Lean Thinking and Continuous Improvement within an...