Den här uppsatsen behandlar Lean i en administrativ miljö, istället för produktion. Lean är inget nytt påfund, utan har sina rötter tillbaka till 1930-talet hos grundarna av Toyota. Lean handlar om att minska slöseri och att visualisera flöden inom företag. Lean används för att identifiera värden och värdeflöden, skapa flöden utan slöserier och implementera dessa flöden mer effektivt genom kontinuerliga förbättringar.  Syftet med uppsatsen är att se hur Lean kan implementeras i en administrativ avdelning för att minska slöseri, ledtider och standardisera arbetsprocesserna. Vidare kommer en grund läggas till en modell för vidare implementering av Lean i andra administrativa avdelningar.  Genom utförda intervjuer, följda ordrar och genom studerade dokument har det blivit klart att Lean går att använda sig av och implementera i en administrativ avdelning. Arbetsprocesserna blir mer synliga vilket gör att processerna kan standardiseras och på så sätt kan slöseri minskas och därmed ledtider minska. Standardisering av arbetet kan ske genom att skapa en prisdatabas, prismodell och synliggöras genom visuell planering.  Modellen som skapats är en pyramid som är uppdelad i fem olika steg. Grunden i pyramiden är att de anställda måste ta ansvar för sitt eget arbete. Nästa nivå i pyramiden är att engagera de anställda. Tredje steget är att visualisera flödet, aktiviteterna och de problem som existerar. Nästa steg är att förenkla flödet, och toppen av pyramiden är att kontinuerligt förbättra flödet.  Slutsatsen av denna studie är att Lean är ett sätt att arbeta som grundar sig i sunt och gemensamt förnuft. Lean kan implementeras i en avdelning genom att göra flödena synliga och identifiera problem, slöseri och förbättrings möjligheter. Vidare kan inte Lean implementeras i en avdelning om inte de anställda tar ansvar för sitt arbete eller om det inte finns ett tydligt ledarskap. / This Master thesis is concerning Lean in an administrative section, instead of production. Lean is nothing new, it has its roots back to the 1930s with the founders of Toyota. Lean is about reducing waste and visualizing flows in companies. Lean is used to find values and value streams in the business, creating flows without waste and to implement these flows more efficiently by continuously work with improvements.  The purpose of this Master thesis is to study how Lean can be implemented in a section of a company where the processes are related to administration, not production, to reduce waste, lead time and structuralize the work process. Further a foundation will be created for a model to implement Lean in other administrative sections.  Through interviews, following orders in the flow and by studying documents it has been established that Lean can be used and implemented in an administrative section. By using Lean work processes can be made more visual, which makes it possible to standardize the process and in that way reduce waste and lead time. This can be made by creating a price database, price model and by using visual planning.  The model created is a pyramid divided into five steps. The foundation is to take responsibility for ones own work, and to inform the employees and give them meaning with changes. The next level is to engage the employees. Third step is to visualize the flow, activities and the problems. The next step is to simplify the flow, and the top of the pyramid is to continuously improve the flow.  The conclusions of the Master thesis are that Lean is a way of working with good and common sense. Lean can be implemented in a section by making the flows visual and then identifying problems, waste and improvements. Further Lean cannot be implemented in a section if the employees do not take responsibility of their own work, or if there is not a visual leadership.

Background: Lean has had a great influence on how companies work today, and both academics and practitioners have admitted its link with superior performance and the ability to create competitive advantage. There is however a widespread confusion of what lean really is and the absence of a clear definition has been highlighted by many researchers within the field. Since the birth of lean, a lot of focus has been on the internal perspective of the concept. Although today with an increased globalization, higher customer demands and a severe competition, the work with lean between companies becomes highly appropriate. Within companies, the processes often work effectively, but it is in the interfaces between companies where a lot of waste and possibilities to improvement exist. Aim: The purpose is to analyse the companies’ consciousness of lean and to what extent their understanding of lean can influence the effectiveness of the entire value stream. Furthermore, the purpose is to analyse how this consciousness affects the collaboration between a customer and a supplier. Method: The study has a deductive approach where the starting point has been in the theories within lean, supplier partnership and effectiveness. A multiple case study has been conducted where five different interfaces have been studied. The study has a qualitative approach where the empirical findings come from ten semi-structured interviews. Result: Our study shows that working with lean interorganisationally helps to create a higher performing value chain. For companies working with lean internally, it is also natural working with lean with the partners. From a lean perspective, effectiveness is defined as a reduction of cost through elimination of waste. By performing VSM, having regular evaluating meetings, sharing forecasts and giving each other insight in inventories, a lot of waste in the interfaces can be reduced. However, to have a well working collaboration, the study shows that a high level of trust and a common view and attitude towards collaboration are necessary.

Problem: How is Lean, a production-focused model being applied to non-productive focused industries. Purpose: To examine how Lean has been applied to the department of Turbuhaler-Kvalitetskontroll and which parts have been successfully applied. Problem statement: How does the implementation of Lean’s basic concept, which originated in the car industry, differentiate itself from the implementation of Lean in the pharmaceutical industry, in this case the department of Turbuhaler-Kvalitetskontroll at AstraZeneca. Conclusions: The department has had success in its implementation of lean. They have developed and modified the basic concept in order to apply it and excluded the parts they did not consider necessary. Through their work they have accomplished numerous improvements in, among other things, the reduction of lead time.

The main purpose of this thesis is to examine how Lean is applied at the Akademiska hospital in Uppsala, Sweden. Lean is regarded as a solution for many issues connected to healthcare. We consider it interesting to examine to what extent Lean is applicable to healthcare in regard with that Lean is initially created for the production industry. We have conducted interviews with leaders and employees at the head division and at four different departments to see if there exists a difference in how they work Lean. From our study we can see that Lean is manifested differently at the departments based on which typology of technology they belong to and how the leaders communicate Lean to its employees. We hope that this study has clarified both difficulties and opportunities with implementing Lean at a hospital. Suggestions for further studies would be to examine what implications there could be with combining Lean with other management philosophies.

Purpose To investigate under which conditions SCD’s work with implementing a lean mindset and behaviour at key suppliers is successful. To help fulfilling the purpose this thesis aims to answer the question: What affects how the production unit of a Scania key supplier adopts a lean mindset and behaviour with focus on continuous improvements? Methodology An exploratory multiple case study with a qualitative data analysis and inductive approach. The cases consist of five Swedish first-tier suppliers to Scania CV AB, and a pilot case study conducted at Scania, Södertälje. Result The case study resulted in a categorisation of suppliers into three groups based on their characteristics and ability to adopt a lean mindset and behaviour: Group I:  Lack of direction, inconsistent management culture, no deeper understanding or interest in lean, no involvement or responsibility of operators in improvement work, a tendency to copy tools and methods given by external help directly into the organisation. Group II:  Strong sense of direction, strong management culture, a personal interest in lean and improvements, an “us and them” culture between managers and operators, and a strong sense to develop tools and working methods in-house and be very restrictive with applying external thoughts in the organisation. Group III: Clear long-term direction; primarily evident among managers, clear targets on an operational level to guide the rest of the organisation, a supportive management culture, an expectation on operators to perform improvement work, and openness to external help but a strong sense of filtering and adapting to the own organisation. Conclusion Our conclusion is that SCD is variously successful due to that the same approach has been used despite different needs of the suppliers. The recommendation is to analyse suppliers with tools provided in this research and adapt the development approach to specific supplier needs: Group I: No prioritisation of long-term development of this group. Group II: Provide guiding from experience to management team, focus workshop on operators and their nearest contact points. Group III: Provide possible solutions to specific problems.

Examensarbetet är utfört på Lifco Dental, som är ett distributionsföretag i Enköping undervårterminen 2013 och omfattar 30 högskolepoäng. Lifco Dentals huvudsakliga verksamhet ärlagerhantering av tandläkarartiklar och det rör sig om cirka 40 000 artiklar i varierandestorlek.Examensarbetet avser i första hand styrning av lagerhållning och artikelplacering. Andraområden som har bearbetas är ergonomi och personalfrågor. Arbetet kretsar kring följandeforskningsfrågor;1. Enligt vilka principer kan man placera artiklar?2. Hur kan man utforma arbetssättet på lager både kostnadseffektivt och ergonomiskt?3. Hur kan materialflödet effektiviseras?från källor som artiklar, litteratur, internet och direktkontakt med personal har samlats in.Behandling av information har baserats på författarnas tidigare kunskaper och vägledning avhögskolans handledare.Valda vertyg och metod är; Read a Plant, värdeflödeskartläggning, spagettidiagram,Paretodiagram, 5-Varför, benchmarking och intervjuer av personal, säljbolag och tandläkare.Dessa verktyg har hjälpt att analysera nuläget i verksamheten och identifiera slöserier samtförbättringsområden. En del verktyg har varit mer relevant för att kunna besvaraforskningsfrågorna.Bäst artikelplacering torde uppnås med ABC-principen. Undersökning av tre identifieradeergonomiska riskmoment gjordes enligt arbetsmiljöverkets bedömningsmall, vilket påvisadeatt man genom att ha rätt resurser, hjälpmedel och klara direktiv kan undvika skador. Dettakan man åstadkomma bland annat genom visuellt ledningssystem och investering i nyaergonomiska verktyg. Resultatet från värdeflödeskartläggning och paretodiagram tyder påbristande fördelning av resurser och identifierar flaskhalsar i flödet. En kontrolleradfördelning av anpassade resurser reducerar ojämnheter och underlättar styrningen.Författarna har baserad på analysen rekommenderat principer för artikelplacering ochlagerflöde samt rekommendationer kring personalmotivering, engagemang och ergonomi. / This Master of Science thesis has been conducted at Lifco Dental, a logistics company inEnköping, Sweden, during the spring term of 2013, encompassing 30 credits. Lifco Dental’score operation is logistics and inventory management of dental products, a sum total ofapproximately 40,000 articles in various sizes.The thesis is primarily concerned with inventory management and article placement. Otherareas of interest have been ergonomics and human resource management. The main researchareas have been;1. According to which principles can articles be placed?2. How can the inventory be managed to be cost efficient and have good ergonomics?3. How can material flows be streamlined?Information from sources such as articles, literature, the internet and direct interaction withemployees has been gathered. This information has been processed based on the authors’prior experience as well as extensive guidance from the MDH supervisor.The authors´ chosen tools and methods have been Read a Plant; Value Stream Mapping;Spaghetti diagram; Pareto diagram; 5Why; benchmarking and interviews with employees,sales staff and dentists. These tools and methods have aided us in analyzing the current stateof operations and in identifying waste as well as areas of opportunity. Some tools have provenmore relevant than others in producing relevant research answers.Optimal article placement can be achieved with the ABC principle. Studies of threeergonomically problematic operations, utilizing templates provided by Arbetsmiljöverket,showed that correct resources and aids as well as clear directives reduces the risks of injuries.This can be achieved by deploying a visual management system and more ergonomical toolsand aids. Results from the Value Stream Mapping and Pareto diagram suggest deficiencies inthe allocation of resources and identifies bottlenecks in the material flow. Controlledallocation of resources reduces inbalances and enhances control.Based on the analysis the authors have recommended principles for article placement andinventory flow as well as recommendations regarding staff motivation, commitment andergonomics.

Den här C-uppsatsen har gått ut på att göra en processkartläggning på återuppbyggnaden av Vivallaskolans bollhall som har brunnit ner under slutet av oktober 2010. Utifrån processkartläggningen har det gjorts analyser och observationer på aktivitetsflödet. Där framgår det vad som har gått bra och mindre bra. Till det som har gått mindre bra har förslag till lösningar tagits fram. I dessa lösningar ingår metoderna: PDCA (s.21), BIM (s.21) och Ishikawadiagram (s.21), som tydligt visar förbättringsåtgärder. Processkartläggningen och lösningsförslagen har tagits fram utifrån observationer i form av besök på arbetsplatsen samt läsning av litteratur och elektroniska källor. Vid besök och samtal med platschef och snickare har det även uppmärksammats att Lean, vilket är en metod för effektivisering av olika aktivitetsflöden, redan delvis används inom produktionsskedet i detta byggprojekt. Detta har gjorts för att effektivisera och utveckla produktionsskedet kvalitativt. I takt med att processkartläggningen har blivit kartlagd och analyserad kan de inblandade i projektet tydligt följa förslag till förbättringar. Detta för att förhindra att eventuella problem som har tagits upp i den här C-uppsatsen uppstår. Dessa förslag kan de använda sig av till nästkommande projekt redan i projekteringsskedet. / This thesis involves a process mapping to the rebuilding of the gymnasium of Vivallaskolan that burned down at the end of October 2010. Analyses and observations in the activity flow are based on the process mapping. There it shows what subsection that has gone well and less well. Suggested solutions have been made to the problems that gone less well. These solutions show clearly how they can be improved and are based on the following methods: the PDCA-cycle (page 21), BIM (page 21) and Ishikawa diagrams (page 21). This process mapping and suggested solutions are based on observations at the construction site together with reading literature and electronic sources. During visits and conversations with the construction manager and carpenters it have been recognized that Lean, which is a method for efficiency of different activity flows, are already partially used in the production of this construction project. These suggested solutions have been made to improve and develop the production phase qualitatively. During the survey and analysis of the process mapping, those who are involved in this construction project can clearly see and follow these suggested solutions. These are made to avoid upcoming problems which have been described in this thesis. These solutions can be used to upcoming construction projects already at the designing and calculation phase.

Lean manufacturing is a term that we have been hearing very often in many sectors and areas. Lean started as a manufacturing system and philosophy that was first developed by Toyota using key production principles that were introduced by Henry Ford. After successful implementations and great results in quality, cost and service levels, lean is now considered as a business system or as a culture. Lean principles and tools are widely used in every step of an entire process, from customer service to supply chain management. Although there are a lot of success stories about lean implementations, many companies are also struggling to adapt their culture towards the implementation of lean principles. In this thesis, standardization of lean manufacturing is studied and an analysis is provided to discuss if standardization would help eliminate the major obstacles that hinder successful lean implementation. Potential benefits and disadvantages of having standards for lean enterprises are analyzed. As a part of the research a survey was conducted to get feedback from lean professionals about standardization. The survey results suggest that there is an overall support for lean standardization. However, there are both positive and negative views about the potential benefits and disadvantages of using lean standards as an implementation guide. A case study is also provided to measure the benefits of lean and to understand how lean standards may help companies implement lean principles. Based on a simulation model that was develop to verify the benefits, a 15 % reduction in inventory carrying cost and a 5% reduction in total queue time was predicted.

Abstract Lean production has become one common concept within industries to make the work more effective and to meet today’s hard competition. A challenge for Chinese production is the threat from new low cost countries. It will become very difficult to succeed to produce to a lower cost than these countries; this led to that Chinese companies must develop new strategies, according to Lee and Zhou (2000). This will put China in front of new challenges and new strategies can be needed to retain their strong competitive advantages. Can Lean production lead to advantages for Swedish companies with production in China? Our aim with this study is to examine conditions in order to apply Lean production in China, to respond to this we have selected and looked closer to three Swedish companies with production in China and their work with Lean production. And which obstacles and success factors the companies have notice. As a base to this study we have a literature study. The literature study lies as a ground for the case studies and our analysis of the aim and those questions we formulated. The three companies we have visited are of various sizes and that influences its sights on Lean production and thereby is given a variation to our study with different thoughts and opinions. The companies we visited are Habia Cable Changzhou, Nanjing Ericsson panda Communications Company Ltd and SKF Shanghai Automotive Technologies Co., Ltd, they are all located in China. At the companies we have done observations and interviews. Four of the tools within Lean production have in one or another way been used in all case companies. These are SMED, 5S, standardization work and process mapping. Process mapping is the tool that is implemented in all companies. One of the bases to Lean production is involved leaderships; this is an important part that also shows in this study. All companies say that the weight of the employees and their attitude is an important part in the work with Lean production. The study confirms thereby that works on improvement are imported and also of the attitude and commitments of the employees. There are several obstacles for a work with Lean production in China, but with a long term thinking and patience with implementation, motivated managers and employees there will be a lot to win.

Visualization is a lean tool and in order to strive to become a lean company applying the lean philosophy in all these parts of the organization is necessary. A company that does not understand the philosophy and culture behind lean production, even though applying lean tools, is not a lean business and has a long way to production excellence.   Implementing and becoming a visual organization means change which includes the organizational culture, collective attitude and beliefs. The difference between success and failure is about the ability to provide knowledge, information and to create prerequisites for participation and engagement at all levels in the organization with a clear and direct leadership.   In many companies communication is lacking sufficient and official channels, and the inadequacy in the information systems are usually due to functional thinking and strict boarders at all levels in an organization. New ways of communication are the result of process orientation, demanding new prerequisites for information systems which companies needs to develop and thus become more visual. Knowledge and information needs to become more accessible and objective in order for decision to be taken based on facts not be the result of interpretations of reality. Visualization enables people to see and develop an objective and common reality. It further contributes to the organizations ability for improvement and aligns the employees to fulfill the overall business objectives and strategies.   The Company in this case that wants to be anonymous will further be called Company X. Company X objective is to develop a visual communication system to increase the information sharing and flow throughout the organization. However, this is not an easy task and many companies lack sufficient prerequisites to carry out a successful implementation. The research result at Company X has in this study shown weaknesses in core areas as in clear and direct leadership, vision and strategy development and communication as well as a low level of knowledge transformation at all levels in the organization in order to create engagement for the change process which an implemetion of this kind is. / Visualisering är ett lean verktyg och i sträva att bli ett lean företag måste lean filosofin tillämpas i alla delar av organisationen, vilket är en nödvändighet. Ett företag som inte förstår filosofin och kulturen bakom lean produktion, trots att man tillämpar lean verktyg, är inte ett lean företag och har en lång väg från optimering av produktion. Förutsättningarna att bli en visuell organisation innebär förändringar som omfattar organisations kultur, kollektiva attityder och föreställningar. Skillnaden mellan framgång och misslyckande handlar om förmågan att ge kunskap, information och att skapa förutsättningar för delaktighet och engagemang på alla nivåer i organisationen, detta genom ett tydligt och direkt ledarskap.   Kommunikation på många företag saknar ofta tillräckliga och officiella kanaler och bristen på information beror många gånger på funktionstänkande och strikta gränser, på alla nivåer i organisationen. Nya sätt att kommunicera är resultatet av processorientering vilket krävs för att företag ska kunna skapa förutsättningar för informationssystem och bli mer visuella. Kunskap och information måste bli mer tillgängligt och objektivt för att beslut som är baserade på fakta och inte på tolkningar av verkligheten ska kunna fattas. Visualiseringen möjliggör för människor att se och utveckla en objektiv och gemensam verklighet. Detta bidrar till organisationers möjlighet till förbättringar och möjlighet för de anställda att uppfylla de övergripande affärsmålen och strategierna för organisationen.   Det studerade företaget som valt att vara anonymt kommer hädanefter kallas för Företag X. Företag X målsättning är att utveckla ett visuellt kommunikationssystem i syfte att öka utbytet av information och dess flöden . Men detta är inte en lätt uppgift och många företag har inte tillräckliga förutsättningar för att kunna genomföra en framgångsrik implementering. Resultaten från studien på företaget X visar på svagheter inom kärnområden som ett klart och tydligt ledarskap, utvecklandet och kommunikationen av vision och strategier samt en låg nivå rörande kunskapsspridandet på alla nivåer i organisationen för att skapa engagemang för förändrings process som en implementering av detta slag innebär.