Techniques
'There is no shortage of techniques. The trick is to select the most appropriate ones for your business.'
It is good to consider new ideas from any source - Lean Thinking, team working, MRP systems, Theory of Constraints or Six Sigma. Each has a role to play depending upon the characteristics of your business - high or low volume, standard or custom products, people intensive or machine intensive. Lean, Six Sigma and ERP are not mutually exclusive.
For considering the bigger picture, the proven techniques include Value Stream Mapping, Process Flow Analysis, Balanced Score Card, Brainstorming and SWOT analysis.
For continuous improvement in the workplace, problem solving, standard operations and workplace organisation (5S) encourage participation and the elimination of waste.
