Adopting Lean Practices is Well Worth the Challenges

In a recent Aberdeen study, leading C-Tier professionals agree that adopting Lean practices is well worth the challenges. Streamlining work-flows, and using feedback to constantly revise processes for maximum optimization is a critical new way to think about operating a warehouse. Doing 'more with less' has been a central theme given the recent sluggish economic recovery, and Lean, Six Sigma or Kaizen methodologies, have made such a seemly impossible task quite doable.

One of the clear challenges to adopting Lean is the significant culture change that often is required. Training for key employees to the highest levels is typically required because if top management is not fully committed to the Lean program, it WILL fail.

Because external organizations and partner companies need also buy in to the Lean methodologies for a smooth fit, implementation can often be time ands resource consuming. The risk of a disruption in business as usual is fairly significant.

However difficult adopting Lean may seem, the payback is demonstrable. Nearly all of the Aberdeen study respondents reported that Lean practices have met or exceeded the expectation in the following categories:

• Inventory and asset reduction
• Design cost reduction
• Improved flexibility
• Improved product quality
• Improved customer service