The Implementation Of Lean Production Practices - The Role Of Leadership And Staff

Lean production is to deliver the product which customer needs with the shortest interval based on customer's requirement on time, quality and cost. It improves productivity and speed of getting profit through reduction of all non-value added activities. Since 1980's,study of Lean has been going on and the practice of Lean has been developing across the world, from manufacturing to product research, supply chain, sales and service to financial management. It covers all aspects of the company operations and it even goes beyond manufacturing , becoming the general management theory in all the industries.As the writer of this article, I have been participating in the Lean implementation activities of my company from April,2006 to March,2007.And at the same time, I have been involved in some countrywide trainings and forums .Based on my above experiences and with reading some related books, I have summarized the following rules which are very critical to successful Lean implementation:Leadership factors which are important to successful Lean implementation:1) Should have clear target, leaders need to have high confidence and passion to win.2) Should come out the implementation plan based on the specific situation of the company.3) Should select the methods matching the company's specific requirements.Employee related factors which are important to successful Lean implementation:1) Should train employee on Lean knowledge and at the same time improve employees'acceptance of the Lean concept, make Lean the culture of the company.2) Should insist on employees being core factors of Lean implementation, not only on the detail operations, but also on leading and impelling the implementation.3) Should give the employees continuous and proper encourages.Through the summary of my company's successful practice, together with the analysis, comparison and induction of other companies'different situations, different plans, and different methods, this article from the difference angles, demonstrates the importance of the above mentioned several rules for successful Lean implementation.Because Lean implementation in China has gone not so far till now, we are short of many experiences and clear instructions, as the writer of this article, I hope more and more people join the practice of Lean, summarize the experience, develop and innovate in our own Lean production theory.