How do you communicate with other departments on Lean Manufacturing projects?

1 Identify the stakeholders

Before you start any Lean Manufacturing project, you need to identify who are the key stakeholders and what are their roles and responsibilities. Stakeholders are the people who are affected by, involved in, or have influence over the project. They may include managers, supervisors, operators, customers, suppliers, or regulators. You need to understand their needs, expectations, and concerns, and how they can contribute to or benefit from the project.

2 Establish the goals and scope

Once you have identified the stakeholders, you need to establish the goals and scope of the project. What are the specific problems or opportunities that you want to address? What are the measurable outcomes or benefits that you want to achieve? What are the boundaries or limitations of the project? You need to communicate these clearly and concisely to the stakeholders, and get their buy-in and commitment. You can use tools like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals, project charter, or scope statement to help you.

3 Use visual tools and methods

One of the best ways to communicate with other departments on Lean Manufacturing projects is to use visual tools and methods. Visual tools and methods are graphical representations of information, data, or processes that help to simplify, clarify, and standardize communication. They can also help to engage, motivate, and empower the stakeholders. Some examples of visual tools and methods are value stream mapping, kanban boards, 5S, gemba walks, or kaizen events.

4 Foster a culture of feedback and learning

Another important aspect of communication with other departments on Lean Manufacturing projects is to foster a culture of feedback and learning. Feedback and learning are essential for continuous improvement, problem-solving, and innovation. You need to create a safe and supportive environment where stakeholders can share their ideas, opinions, and suggestions, as well as their challenges, issues, and risks. You also need to provide regular updates, reports, and reviews on the progress and results of the project, and celebrate the achievements and learnings.

5 Use appropriate communication channels and tools

Finally, you need to use appropriate communication channels and tools to communicate with other departments on Lean Manufacturing projects. Communication channels and tools are the mediums and devices that you use to send and receive messages. They can be formal or informal, verbal or non-verbal, written or spoken, synchronous or asynchronous. You need to choose the communication channels and tools that suit the purpose, audience, and context of your message. Some examples of communication channels and tools are emails, meetings, phone calls, chats, newsletters, or dashboards.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?