Lean is a philosophy with the purpose of increasing value from the customer perspective, through the continuous elimination of waste. During the last decades, the implementation of this philosophy has expanded to the service sector and administrative support processes. The last decades have also shown a major increase of employment within the service sector in Sweden, giving validity to the implementation of lean within administrative support processes. The implementation of this philosophy within the service sector can be associated with the term lean administration.  The purpose of this study is to suggest efficiency improvements by applying value stream mapping within the invoice flow of an industrial company's financial unit and to provide recommendations regarding an implementation of lean administration. The purpose of this study is based upon the problems that the financial unit faces today regarding inefficiencies within the invoice flow due to redundant processes and a lack of standardized work. The purpose of this study and research questions are fulfilled by performing a literature study as well as a case study which included qualitative interviews and quantitative observations.  The current invoice flow has through the simulation program FlexSim been mapped and analyzed. The authors have been able to construct a recommended invoice flow, with the current flow as a point of reference. The recommended flow shows that a 46% decrease in active process time per invoice can be achieved. This decrease of active process time per invoice alongside an implementation of lean administration can benefit the financial unit in the long term.  After interviews, observations and discussions with the case company, the suggested efficiency improvements presented in this study, can be considered applicable within and outside of the observed financial unit. The suggestions for improvement are based on the value stream mapping through FlexSim and could be achieved through an application of the recommended invoice flow. The case company should also consider a future implementation of lean administration and its associated improvement tools 5S, 5-Why and PDCA-cycles.

Avsikten med denna rapport och undersökning är att belysa vikten av att införa Lean Thinking i företagets alla delar samt hur detta utförs på ett hållbart sätt. Med hållbart menas här att företaget ska ta vara på sina medarbetare och lyfta dem samtidigt som de lyfter verksamheten och effektiviserar processerna.  Syftet med studien är att studerar hur Lean Thinking fungerar i kontorsmiljö samt hur en organisation går till väga för att påbörja en hållbar implementering av Lean. Intresset för Lean föddes under kursen Lean Production och sedan dess har vi uppmärksammat fel och problem i mötet med olika företag vilket har motiverat till denna studie.   En deduktiv metod har använts och studien grundar sig dels på litteraturstudier, kvalitativa intervjuer, samt en fallstudie som har utförts i samarbete med ett företag som precis har påbörjat sin Lean-resa. I syfte att höja validiteten har en f.d. lean-föreläsaren, Anders Nylund, från Högskolan i Borås intervjuats.  I resultatet presenteras respondenternas svar och jämförts med råden och riktlinjerna som kommit fram under intervjun Nylund för att utvärdera om företaget har bra mål och korrekta tillvägagångssätt. Vidare presenteras en guide som i korta drag presenterar hur man ska gå till väga och vad man som företag bör tänka på vid implementation av Lean i kontorsmiljö. / The intention of this report and study is to highlight the importance of implementing Lean Thinking in all parts of the company and doing so in a sustainable way. To implement something in a sustainable way is to consider your employees and helping them reach new goals and possibilities and making the business more efficient at the same time.   The purpose is to study how Lean Thinking works in an office environment and how an organization initiates a sustainable implementation of Lean. The interest of Lean first started during the course Lean Production and since then we`ve noticed a lot of different problems that companies were having, that we hadn´t see before. This is the motivation for this study.  The study is based on a deductive method and is performed through literature studies, interviews based on qualitative methods and a case study performed in association with a company who just recently started their Lean journey. In order to increase the validity of the report we conducted an interview with an former lecturer, Anders Nylund, who works at the University of Borås.  The results of the interviews are presented and compared with the advice and the guidelines we gathered from the interview with Nylund to evaluate if the company´s goals and approach are valid. Furthermore a guide is presented that briefly explaines how a company should go about to implement Lean in an office environment.

O Lean Six Sigma é a metodologia originada a partir da integração das metodologias Lean e Six Sigma. O Lean Six Sigma procura eliminar as perdas e reduzir os defeitos, agregando os benefícios de cada uma das duas metodologias que a dão origem. O objetivo deste trabalho é aplicar a metodologia Lean Six Sigma para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as metodologias Lean e Six Sigma, buscando a compreensão das origens do Lean Six Sigma, e uma revisão sobre a metodologia Lean Six Sigma. Baseado na revisão bibliográfica é apresentada uma metodologia para aplicação do Lean Six Sigma, que tem por estrutura o DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). Na sequência esta metodologia é aplicada para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Os resultados da aplicação do Lean Six Sigma foram: aumento do nível de sigma e redução dos defeitos do processo, demonstrando que as metodologias Lean e Seis Sigma podem ser integradas, e como ocorre essa integração. Os fatores de sucesso da aplicação da metodologia Lean Six Sigma também foram evidenciados. / Lean Six Sigma is a methodology originated from the integration of Lean and Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma seeks for eliminate waste and reduce defects, combining benefits from both methodologies. The objective of this dissertation is apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology to improve a production process. In this dissertation is presented a bibliography review about the Lean and Six Sigma methodology, looking for understanding of the Lean Six Sigma sources and a review about the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Based on the bibliography review is presented a methodology to apply Lean Six Sigma, that has the DMAIC as the structure (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). This methodology is applied to improve a production process. The results of the Lean Six Sigma application were the increase of sigma level and reduction of process defects, showing that Lean and Six Sigma can be combined and how this combination happens. The success factors of the application of Lean Six Sigma methodology were evidenced.

No description available.

Globalization has led to that companies’ within the textile industry, now source manufacturing overseas. Supply chains are therefore now ultimately longer, with a lot of activities and people involved. Control and implementation of strategies is now something that companies need to considerate in the supply chain, in order to reduce lead times, meet the unpredictable demand of today’s consumers and compete against other retailers. One important task in this is for retailers to have an efficient PD and sample process, due to the fact that it's in this stage where the retailers still have time to make changes and prevent problems along the supply chain. The Conceptual Framework; describes that the textile industry is not high represented in the use lean even if the strategy doesn’t need large investments in technology or training. A great part of succeeding with lean lies in the development phase, and to build a well developed and thought out system to be able to create future products. In the methodology chapter the authors have chosen to perform a case study on a branded retailer. By conducting interviews, observations and value stream mapping, the researchers can approach the study from different angles in order to double check the results, which tends to increase the validity and reliability of a study. The study's empirical materials are based on seven semi-structured interviews with employees at the case company, two observations on fittings and a Value stream mapping (VSM) of 5 different styles. This was done in order to create a deeper understanding of the sample process and the activities involved and identify non-value adding activities. Discussion; the researchers have noticed that depending on the production country and product type, the sample process looks very different. This can be a result of that people working in the process don’t have a standardized way in handling problems and instead do it in their own way. The results that case company generated could be concluded that there are several problems in sample process, which is further discussed in the analysis chapter, where there are a number of lean tools that can eliminate the identified problems. The conclusion that the researchers made is that working with Lean PD can help the company to improve their capabilities and do more with less, by sorting out the unnecessary activities with a focus on standardizing. The literature say that VSM and 5S are most common in textile companies, but the researchers have seen, through this research, that other lean tools are applicable and appropriate in the PD as well.

No description available.

O Lean Six Sigma é a metodologia originada a partir da integração das metodologias Lean e Six Sigma. O Lean Six Sigma procura eliminar as perdas e reduzir os defeitos, agregando os benefícios de cada uma das duas metodologias que a dão origem. O objetivo deste trabalho é aplicar a metodologia Lean Six Sigma para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as metodologias Lean e Six Sigma, buscando a compreensão das origens do Lean Six Sigma, e uma revisão sobre a metodologia Lean Six Sigma. Baseado na revisão bibliográfica é apresentada uma metodologia para aplicação do Lean Six Sigma, que tem por estrutura o DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). Na sequência esta metodologia é aplicada para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Os resultados da aplicação do Lean Six Sigma foram: aumento do nível de sigma e redução dos defeitos do processo, demonstrando que as metodologias Lean e Seis Sigma podem ser integradas, e como ocorre essa integração. Os fatores de sucesso da aplicação da metodologia Lean Six Sigma também foram evidenciados. / Lean Six Sigma is a methodology originated from the integration of Lean and Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma seeks for eliminate waste and reduce defects, combining benefits from both methodologies. The objective of this dissertation is apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology to improve a production process. In this dissertation is presented a bibliography review about the Lean and Six Sigma methodology, looking for understanding of the Lean Six Sigma sources and a review about the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Based on the bibliography review is presented a methodology to apply Lean Six Sigma, that has the DMAIC as the structure (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). This methodology is applied to improve a production process. The results of the Lean Six Sigma application were the increase of sigma level and reduction of process defects, showing that Lean and Six Sigma can be combined and how this combination happens. The success factors of the application of Lean Six Sigma methodology were evidenced.

O Lean Six Sigma é a metodologia originada a partir da integração das metodologias Lean e Six Sigma. O Lean Six Sigma procura eliminar as perdas e reduzir os defeitos, agregando os benefícios de cada uma das duas metodologias que a dão origem. O objetivo deste trabalho é aplicar a metodologia Lean Six Sigma para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as metodologias Lean e Six Sigma, buscando a compreensão das origens do Lean Six Sigma, e uma revisão sobre a metodologia Lean Six Sigma. Baseado na revisão bibliográfica é apresentada uma metodologia para aplicação do Lean Six Sigma, que tem por estrutura o DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). Na sequência esta metodologia é aplicada para melhoria de um processo produtivo. Os resultados da aplicação do Lean Six Sigma foram: aumento do nível de sigma e redução dos defeitos do processo, demonstrando que as metodologias Lean e Seis Sigma podem ser integradas, e como ocorre essa integração. Os fatores de sucesso da aplicação da metodologia Lean Six Sigma também foram evidenciados. / Lean Six Sigma is a methodology originated from the integration of Lean and Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma seeks for eliminate waste and reduce defects, combining benefits from both methodologies. The objective of this dissertation is apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology to improve a production process. In this dissertation is presented a bibliography review about the Lean and Six Sigma methodology, looking for understanding of the Lean Six Sigma sources and a review about the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Based on the bibliography review is presented a methodology to apply Lean Six Sigma, that has the DMAIC as the structure (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). This methodology is applied to improve a production process. The results of the Lean Six Sigma application were the increase of sigma level and reduction of process defects, showing that Lean and Six Sigma can be combined and how this combination happens. The success factors of the application of Lean Six Sigma methodology were evidenced.

Titel En kvalitativ fallstudie om hur företag förhåller sig till gapet mellan den operativa och den strategiska delen av Lean Nivå Kandidatuppsats   Författare Igor Jovanović och Linnea Juhlin   Handledare Stig Sörling och Tomas Källquist   Datum Maj 2014   Problem Tidigare forskning har påvisat att det finns ett gap i företagens användning av styrverktyget, där företagen i stor utsträckning förbiser vikten av den strategiska delen av Lean. Detta har gjort att företag har haft svårigheter att uppnå sina mål med användandet av styrverktyget.   Syfte Syftet är att skapa förståelse för hur tillverkande företag förhåller sig till gapet mellan den operativa och den strategiska delen av Lean, samt belysa de beståndsdelar gapet består av.   Metod Studien har antagit ett hermeneutiskt och socialkonstruktivistiskt perspektiv där tematisering och ett deduktivt tillvägagångssätt har använts. Studien har genom kvalitativ metod med fallstudiedesign studerat fyra stora företag med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer.   Teori En genomgång av Lean-konceptet görs för att skapa förståelse för styrverktyget sedan fördjupar vi oss på den strategiska delen av Lean för att kartlägga de olika beståndsdelarna som kan överbrygga gapet.   Bidrag Gapet framträder inte lika tydligt i vår studie, fallföretagen har i sitt tankesätt störst fokus på den strategiska delen av Lean. Kultur och ledarskap är huvudbeståndsdelar i jobbet med att överbrygga gapet där den strategiska delen ämnar skapa positiv energi hos medarbetarna. Studien indikerar på att svårigheter med att införliva de teoretiska kunskaperna i praktiken ökar risken för att gapet ska uppstå.               Nyckelord: Lean Production, Lean Thinking, Lean kultur, Gap, operativ, strategisk, Dualism. / Title A qualitative case study research on companies attitude towards the gap between the operational and the strategic part of Lean Level Bachelor thesis   Authors Igor Jovanović and Linnea Juhlin   Supervisor Stig Sörling and Tomas Källquist   Date May 2014   Problem Earlier research has shown that there is a gap in how companies work with Lean where they largely overlook the importance of the strategic part of Lean. Due to this, companies have difficulties to achieve their goals with the use of the management tool.   Purpose The purpose of this report is to create an understanding of manufacturing companies’ attitude towards the gap between the operational and the strategic part of Lean, and to highlight the components that the gap might consist of.   Method The study adopts a hermeneutic and social constructionist perspective where thematisation and a deductive approach have been used. A qualitative approach with case study design has been used to study four large companies using semi-structured interviews.     Theoretic frame A review of the Lean concept has been conducted to create an understanding of the management tool. The study has then focused on the strategic part of Lean to identify the different components that may help to bridge the gap.   Contribution The gap is not as evident in our empirical study as in our theoretical framework. It appears as companies do have their focus on the strategic parts of Lean, at least in their way of thinking. Culture and leadership are essential components in the efforts towards bridging the gap. The strategic part of Lean intends to create positive energy among employees. The study indicates that a difficulty in incorporating the theoretical knowledge in practice increases the risk of creating the gap. Key words: Lean Production, Lean Thinking, Lean Culture, Gap, Operational, Strategic, Dualism

This report is an evaluation on the use of Lean Construction by the contracting company Kruse Smith AS (KS). The study addresses how well the implementation of KS new Lean policy is carried out, what improvements can be made and how the policy itself can be improved. Lean is a planning methodology used by companies to increase workflow and reduce waste in a project. Lean Construction is a development of Lean to adapt to the construction industry. Kruse Smith AS is a construction company engaged in building-, construction- and real estate business. This study focuses on building projects. The survey was done by including three ongoing construction projects: Project 1 - Blocks of flats in Kristiansand Project 2 - High School in Lyngdal Project 3 - Blocks of flats in Sandnes By the results we see that the various projects interpret the policy in different ways and therefore end up with different ways of organizing and structuring the workplace. Yet we see that the basic objectives of the policy can be achieved without necessarily having to do the same. To strengthen the implementation of the policy from the corporate side, they can place the focus on monitoring the various projects, usually where most managers are not accustomed to the use of Lean. In addition, to inform everyone and to create a better knowledge of Lean they can post something about this in the Health and Safety Plan(HMS-plan) as this will be read by all. An improvement of the implementation can also be strengthened if the company puts the most experienced Lean workers with other inexperienced in the various projects. The policy itself can be strengthened by placing greater emphasis on evaluation and continuous improvement, such as entering regular meetings for this. The policy can also focus more on the removal of waste to get rid of as much as possible of unnecessary transportation, searching and waiting. The policy can be further improved by developing the company's deviation system, to include suggestions and improvments. / Dette rapporten er en undersøkelse om bruken av Lean Construction i entreprenørselskapet Kruse Smith AS. Undersøkelsen tar opp hvor godt implementeringen av Kruse Smiths nye Lean policy utføres, hvilke forbedringer som kan gjøres og hvordan selve policyen kan forbedres. Lean er en planleggings metodikk som brukes av bedriften for å øke produksjons flyten og minke sløsing i et prosjekt. Lean Construction er en videreutvikling av Lean for å tilpasse byggebransjen. Kruse Smith AS er et entreprenørselskap som driver med bygg-, anlegg- og eiendomsvirksomhet. Denne undersøkelsen tar for seg prosjekter innen bygg. Undersøkelsen ble gjort ved å inkludere tre pågående byggeprosjekt: Prosjekt 1 – Boligblokker i Kristiansand Prosjekt 2 – Ungdomsskole i Lyngdal Prosjekt 3 – Boligblokker i Sandnes Av resultatene ser man at de ulike prosjektene tolker policyen på forskjellige måter og ender derfor opp med forskjellig organisering og strukturering av arbeidsplassen. Allikevel ser man at de elementære målene i policyen kan bli nådd uten å nødvendigvis måtte gjøre det samme. For å styrke implementeringen av policyen kan det fra bedriftens side legges fokus på oppfølging av de ulike prosjektene, gjerne mest der hvor ansvarlige ikke er vant med bruken av Lean. I tillegg kan det for å informere alle og skape en bedre kjennskap til Lean legges inn noe om dette i helse, miljø og sikkerhets planen (HMS-planen) da denne skal leses av alle. Man kan også bevist plassere de mest Lean erfarne med andre uerfarne i de ulike prosjekt. Policyen kan styrkes ved å legge større fokus på evaluering og kontinuerlig forbedring ved eksempelvis å legge inn faste møter for dette, det kan også fokuseres på fjerning av sløsing slik at man kvitter seg mest mulig med unødvendig transport, leting og venting. Policyen kan i tillegg forbedres ved en videreutvikling av avviksystemet som i dag kun har fokus på uønskede hendelser og kvaliteter, til å også inkludere forbedrings forslag.