BWL-Lexiken
  • MBS QUICK FACTS:
  • Nationally recognized since 1999
  • Accreditation by the German Council of Science and Humanities
  • Study Location: Munich
  • Top scores in numerous rankings

Lean Management

The topic of lean management deals with increasing productivity and efficiency in companies. In our business dictionary, we explain definitions, contexts, methods and examples to familiarize you with the topic. Here you will find everything you need to know about lean management!

What is Lean Management?

Lean management is a component of modern business management and originally comes from the automotive industry. The idea behind it is to manufacture or provide as many products or services as possible with as little effort as possible. By adhering to "lean" principles, efficiency is to be increased and product quality improved.

At the heart of lean management is KTA, the circle-to-circle approach. This involves examining the value chain from the manufacturer to the end customer with regard to optimization needs. Measures are then developed to address these optimization needs. In practice, this often means reducing precursors, materials or other inputs, which in turn leads to a reduction in output.

History of the concept

Lean management is an increasingly popular concept in modern business management. The concept of lean management was originally developed in the automotive industry and has since spread to many other areas. It was developed primarily in the 1980s and is based on the Toyota Production System. Lean management has since become a widespread method in companies of all sizes and industries.

Goals of Lean Management

  1. Elimination of waste: Waste is one of the biggest challenges for any company. It means that workers waste more time and energy than necessary or that resources are not used properly. The goal of lean management is therefore to eliminate such waste and make the process as efficient as possible.
  2. Optimization of the value stream: The value stream refers to all activities required to deliver a desired service. This includes things like material handling, production control and logistics management. With lean management, companies can optimize these activities by eliminating unnecessary steps or introducing new technologies.
  3. Continuous improvement: Continuous improvement is a key element of lean management, as all other principles are based on it. In essence, this means always looking for ways to improve the process and achieve efficiency gains - without taking risks or making excessive investments.
  4. Focus on customer satisfaction: Customer satisfaction is at the heart of lean management - so the focus is on meeting customer expectations and providing them with high-quality products or services. Companies can achieve this by understanding their customers' needs and also integrating feedback into their system.

Overall, the above basic principles of lean management provide the basis for more efficient working in any company - both in terms of personnel and the production process - and help to achieve resource savings and increased sales in equal measure.

Lean Management Methods

Lean management is a collection of methods, techniques and strategies aimed at conserving resources and increasing the value of products or services to customers. Lean management works by eliminating redundant steps and activities and replacing them with a more efficient process. The goal is to reduce costs and shorten delivery time while improving quality.

The lean management principle is based on the kaizen philosophy of continuous progress. It encourages companies to regularly review processes using quantifiable metrics and to continuously adapt to the needs of their customers. Lean management involves both technical and cultural change. It is therefore often referred to as a "culture of progress".

There are many different tools and techniques that companies can use to implement lean management. These include just-in-time (JIT) production, kaizen events, and visualization techniques such as kanban boards. These methods help companies identify and eliminate inefficient workflows and optimize resource utilization.

The success of lean management depends heavily on the introduction of a culture of engagement - a culture, in other words, in which every member of the team can share their ideas and these are valued. Only in this way can companies implement the right tools and successfully implement labor-saving measures.

Lean management is a powerful tool in the area of operational performance improvement for companies of all sizes. It offers many benefits - including higher productivity, reduced costs, better quality standards and increased customer satisfaction - but it is only worthwhile for companies that are willing to engage in change processes. Although it can be difficult to bring about change - in the end it is always worth it! Those who have the courage to implement Lean Management methodology in their company will be rewarded in the long run - both monetarily and qualitatively!


What tools are used in the application of lean management?

Lean management is a dynamic strategy that focuses on improving productivity and efficiency. It pursues the goal of conserving resources and minimizing waste. To achieve this, various tools are used that are based on the principles of lean management.

The following principles are particularly important for lean management:

  1. Kaizen: Kaizen is a continuous process of improving quality and efficiency. This includes measures such as reducing waste, optimizing workflows and processes, and minimizing errors.
  2. Kanban System: A Kanban system is a visual form of inventory management. It enables companies to keep an eye on their inventories and thus offers more flexibility in terms of production and delivery times.
  3. Pull System: The pull system is often considered the counterpart to the push system, which promotes predictability by planning ahead.
  4. Six Sigma Methodology: The implementation of Lean Management is usually followed by an implementation of the Six Sigma methodology.
  5. PDCA cycle: The PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) is an iterative approach to systematic change in organizations. It is based on the concept of ongoing learning through continuous evaluation of results against predefined standards or targets.

These are just some of the tools that can be used when applying lean management. However, each of these tools requires its own specific application strategy to achieve the best possible result for your company. Therefore, it is important to be aware of all aspects of lean management before choosing one of these tools. This way, you can ensure that you implement the right key strategies to achieve the most effective lean management results.

Kaizen & Continuous improvement process

Kaizen is a central component of the Japanese management philosophy Lean Management. The idea of Kaizen is based on continuous improvements that are made in a company. These changes are intended to help increase the efficiency and productivity of the company through small but continuous steps.

The goal of Kaizen is to constantly improve the processes in the company and thus ensure the company's competitive advantage. The idea is that each change in the company is a tiny improvement, but these small increases together over time produce significant results.

There are 5 main concepts of the Kaizen:

  1. Gemba Kaizen: Gemba Kaizen refers to improvement measures at the workplaces themselves. It is a combination of "Gemba" - the place of actual work - and "Kaizen", the concept of continuous improvement.
  2. Muda: Muda means waste and refers to all activities that do not add value to the customer or do not directly contribute to the achievement of the goal.
  3. Jidoka: Jidoka refers to a method of identifying quality issues by using automated monitoring to detect and eliminate problems.
  4. Heijunka: Heijunka means balance and refers to the even utilization of all machines and resources in the company.
  5. Poka Yoke: Poka Yoke (or error prevention) refers to methods used to identify and prevent sources of error and develop procedures to achieve greater safety in the company's processes.

With the help of all these methodologies, it is possible to identify cost-saving opportunities in record time and to exploit revenue growth potential. As a result, Lean Management offers tremendous benefits to companies of all sizes and types - especially those that want to maximize profits without having to invest unnecessarily in new technologies or hire new employees. In conjunction with other strategies such as Six Sigma or BPR (Business Process Reengineering), Kaizen can help to create an efficient system for identifying problem areas in companies and thus provide long-term benefits for the organizational units involved.

CIP - Continuous Improvement Process

CIP, also known as the continuous improvement process, is an essential part of lean management. It aims to optimize production and workflow. To this end, all processes are constantly reviewed and evaluated. CIP is based on the principles of the Kaizen philosophy and can be applied in a company or in a team.

CIP consists of six steps: Plan, Check, Act, Audit, Analyze, and Standardize. Included in each of these steps are various activities that business leaders can use to create a more efficient organization.

  1. Planning is about defining goals and creating a plan to achieve those goals.
  2. Checking involves measuring the processes and comparing them with the set target.
  3. Actions are taken to decide which measures need to be taken in order to adapt the processes to the set goal.
  4. During the Audit, the success of the measures taken is measured, and an assessment is made whether they have had the desired effect.
  5. The Analysis phase enables executives to better understand trends in the business and make the right decisions to optimize the business.
  6. And finally, the last step is Standardization to ensure that all employees go through the same process with the same quality.

CIP is therefore an effective method for optimizing production and processes within a company. This is the only way to be successful in the long term and to master new challenges. For entrepreneurs, it is therefore elementary to apply the CIP so they can move their company forward.

Kanban System: Just-in-time production systems

Just-in-Time production systems (JIT) are an essential part of lean management. Just-In-Time means that products are only pre-produced as they are actually needed. This prevents unnecessary resources from being wasted. In addition, products can be reacted to immediately, which leads to a significant improvement in quality.

Another advantage of Just-In-Time is that there are no warehousing costs. This is because as soon as a product is finished, it is delivered to the customer immediately. This not only saves money, but also time.

Pull System

The pull system is a central part of lean management and an efficient way to plan production. It is based on the principle of demand orientation, where each process responds to the previous demand. The pull system is often considered the counterpart of the push system, which promotes predictability by planning ahead.

In the pull system, the necessary materials are only produced or called off when they are needed. In contrast to push systems, the call-off takes place directly via the sales order and not via forward planning. It therefore focuses more on the customer's needs and enables more flexible production. In addition, inventories are reduced, resulting in cost savings.

The Pull system is ideal for companies whose products are manufactured in short cycles and need to be highly personalized. Its focus on customer needs makes it particularly suitable for companies that need to monitor rapid changes in the market or anticipate new trends.

Another advantage of pull systems is the mitigation of the occurrence of misproduction and overproduction. Because it is based on the customer's actual needs, there is no risk of producing more materials than are actually required or of having to interrupt production cycles to remove excess materials. The risk of bottlenecks and irregularities in production can also be reduced.

Conclusion: The pull system is a more efficient method of lean management than the push system and offers many advantages in terms of saving costs, minimizing misproduction and overproduction, and flexibility in production planning. It is therefore particularly well suited to companies whose products need to be personalized frequently or who need to react quickly to changes in the market. With the pull system, processes can be designed more effectively and risks can be reduced - all with customer benefits in mind!

Six Sigma Methodology

The implementation of Lean Management usually involves the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology. This methodology consists of seven phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC). In each phase, specific actions are taken to optimize business success.

  1. The Define phase involves defining the project and identifying goals and metrics;
  2. In the Measure phase, the data is measured;
  3. In the Analyze phase, the data is analyzed;
  4. The Improve phase looks for ways to improve the process;
  5. And finally, in the Control phase, the system is monitored and controlled.

There are several types of lean management tools that can be used to apply this methodology. Some commonly used tools are 5S systems (sort, structure, clean, standardize and sustain), Kaizen (continuous improvement) and Kanban (just in time production). These tools help simplify processes and reduce waste.

Another method within the framework of lean management is the Six Sigma concept. Six Sigma is a systematic method for troubleshooting and improving processes with the goal of maximizing customer satisfaction. Six Sigma uses statistical analysis techniques to identify problems and develop proposed solutions. Using these techniques, companies can identify deviations from the standard and optimize their processes.

Lean management offers many advantages for companies - it reduces costs, improves quality as well as efficiency and creates better customer experiences. As a result, it significantly increases the company's profitability in the long term. However, in order to set up a successful lean management system, everyone involved must be familiar with the basic principles of the system as well as the various tools and methodologies.

PDCA - Plan–Do–Check–Act-Cycle

The 4-step Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is an important part of Lean Management. It is a kind of quality circle and helps companies to solve problems, improve their products and optimize their processes.

The PDCA cycle consists of four phases: Plan, Do, Check and Act. Each phase has a specific purpose and is intended to help achieve continuous improvement and avoid errors.

  • In the Plan phase, the situation is analyzed and the specific goals are defined. In addition, a plan is developed to achieve these goals. This plan defines what actions need to be taken to achieve the desired changes.
  • In the Do phase, the actions defined in the plan are then actually carried out. It is very important that everyone involved understands what they need to do and why they need to do it.
  • In the Check phase, stakeholders review the progress of the project against the goals set in the plan. They also review the results of the actions taken and determine whether or not they have produced the desired results.
  • Finally, in the Act phase, adjustments are made if necessary. For example, if it has been determined that the measures taken are not sufficient or do not work, new measures must be taken or the existing plan must be adjusted.

The 4-step PDCA cycle is a powerful method for continuous improvement in companies of any size and in any industry. The cycle helps companies find creative approaches to solve problems as well as develop more efficient workflows and successfully implement long-term change processes.

Interested in Business Studies? Request our information material now!

Popular courses at Munich Business School

Our bachelor's and master's degree programs provide you with relevant knowledge and skills you need for a successful career.

International Business
BACHELOR
International Business
International Business
MASTER
International Business
All Masterprograms
MASTER
All Masterprograms

Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any suggestions or questions about this article? Did you notice something or is there a topic you would like to learn more about in our dictionary? Your feedback is important to us! This helps us to constantly improve our content and deliver exactly what you are interested in.
Contact editorial office

PAGE-TITLE: Lean Management