Guides for lean manufacturing

There are numbers of publication on lean manufacturing. Among papers can be referred are such as:

i) Review of lean manufacturing implementation in SME
ii) Lean manufacturing best practices in SMEs
iii) A simple framework for lean manufacturing
Hopefully the link documents could provide good reference for your assignment

Feasible lean practices

There are more than 100 lean practices/tools being practiced by the industries.  What are the tools should be practiced first? This is a dilemma to the manufacturers to choose the right tools.  Should they just copy from other companies?  Don't just copy ..but, the correct way is to adapt the right tools. Top management and shop floor should support each other in order to success in lean manufacturing.  I could said that most of the companies failed in lean were those top management who are not committed to the implementation.  Therefore, I personally advice the interested companies to go for a training first before really to embark lean manufacturing.  Look at lean pillars.  First, set up lean foundation in organisation.  Arrange a training for top management and shop floor.  Let them understand the theory of lean . Try first...and see the result.     

How to start lean manufacturing

Lean manufacturing implementation is subjective.  It's depend to the organisation environment.  Do we need to implement all lean practices at once or can be partially.  The dilemma of new companies to implement this system are difficulties to choose lean practices.  Some of them just follow others companies which not really suitable to their environment.  This phenomenon had caused them fail at the early stage.  Actually, the system is the same provided how your company plan and implement it.  First of all, I would like to suggest to the new comer to study and get to know their organisation.  What are the loop holes should be tackled first and how serious top management on this system.  Most of the companies failed in this system is due to poor commitment of top management.  Every movement and decision is decided by them. There are huge benefits to those who already implemented this system. Among of them are productivity increase, delivery on time, reduce inventory and etc.  As a lean researcher, I would like suggest to the manufacturer to look seriously in this system.. Focus the feasible tools which could fulfil to your organisation needs.

The importance of industrial engineering

Industrial Engineering (IE) is very important for all manufacturing organisation.  The aim of IE is to optimise all parameters involved in the production.  The efficient of production system could influence the organisation productivity.  One of the tools which is very common to the companies is 5S.  What is 5S? This is a system for housekeeping. In Japan, the 5S is practiced in all companies.  The 5S system was applied successfully by Japanese,  the first 3S is considered their culture.  Therefore, we have to ensure that everybody could adapt completely 3S. Even one of the Japanese experts who had experience with Toyota said that 3S is a pre-5S.  In my research, there are feasible lean practices were discovered should be implemented by companies in order to success in lean manufacturing.   Some researcher do said that lean is only applicable to large companies.  But, from my opinoin lean manufacturing is suitable to all companies. That's why, nowadays construction, hospital, fast fool restaurant are keenly for this system