Applying Lean Above the Factory Floor

Modern Kaizen events have been based on the principles of the Toyota Production System (TPS). However, TPS is a system used in repetitive manufacturing and not typically associated with business processes. The goal of TPS is to eliminate waste in order to improve quality, shorten lead times and reduce costs. Clearly this same philosophy applies as much above the shop floor as it does in the factory. This paper first discusses how to adapt the lean philosophy and Kaizen methodology to business processes above the shop floor. It will also present some case examples from lean workshops conducted in the shipbuilding industry.