While they are convinced of the benefits of Lean, many manufacturers are convinced a Lean transformation is much too complicated for them to undertake in their company. Mfg Matters has always believed that any company of any size can implement a Lean operating system using their own internal resources. Many Lean proponents and practitioners work hard to make a difference in countless enterprises around the globe, but there are others that try to make a Lean transformation sound as complicated as possible. Esoteric theories, jargon, and proprietary terminology are used as a technique to make straightforward, common-sense Lean technology sound complicated and convoluted. Because of the Toyota Production System influence on Lean thinking, some manufacturers are convinced they have to learn the entire glossary of Japanese manufacturing terms as a prerequisite for implementing Lean. These tactics are designed to cause manufacturers to doubt their own ability to complete a Lean transformation without contracting an outside consultant to lead their project.
Certainly there are many good reasons to use an outside consultant on a Lean transformation project, but fear of using internal resources is not one of them. Outside consultants do provide previous implementation experience and bring the project management skills required to complete your transformation.
It has been the goal of Mfg Matters to make a Lean transformation a reality for as many companies as possible by using their own internal resources. However, Mfg Matters previous experience reveals that while the Lean concepts are simple, self-explanatory and straightforward, they are often not intuitive to the manufacturer who has operated traditional ERP/MRP operating systems for their entire professional career. For some manufacturers, there is a learning curve and assistance is sometimes needed to help a manufacturer get their project started, provide course correction, or provide the project management skills needed to get the job done. In addition to the two books that describe the “How To” for completing a Lean transformation, Mfg Matters also offers training, consulting and mentoring services that can be customized to meet the manufacturer’s Lean transformation needs.
Contact Mfg Matters today to discuss how our training, consulting and mentoring services can help you with your Lean transformation initiatives.