How can you use Lean benchmarking to drive continuous improvement?

3 How to choose the right metrics and benchmarks?

To conduct effective Lean benchmarking, you need to choose the right metrics and benchmarks that reflect your strategic objectives and customer requirements. You also need to ensure that the metrics and benchmarks are relevant, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Some examples of common Lean metrics and benchmarks are cycle time, inventory turnover, defect rate, customer satisfaction, and profitability. You can use internal or external sources of data to obtain the metrics and benchmarks, such as historical records, industry reports, surveys, or site visits.

4 How to conduct a gap analysis?

A gap analysis is the process of comparing your current performance with the desired performance based on the metrics and benchmarks you have chosen. The gap analysis helps you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your processes, as well as the opportunities and threats for improvement. You can use various tools and techniques to conduct a gap analysis, such as SWOT analysis, fishbone diagram, Pareto chart, or value stream mapping. The gap analysis should result in a clear and comprehensive report that summarizes your findings and recommendations.

5 How to implement action plans based on your findings?

Based on the gap analysis, you should develop and implement action plans that address the root causes of the gaps and aim to close them. The action plans should be specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound. They should also be aligned with your strategic goals and customer needs. You should assign roles and responsibilities, allocate resources, and monitor progress and results. You should also communicate the action plans to your team and stakeholders, and solicit their feedback and support.

6 How to evaluate and sustain improvement?

The last step of Lean benchmarking is to evaluate and sustain the improvement that you have achieved. You should measure the impact of your action plans on the metrics and benchmarks that you have chosen, and compare them with the baseline and the target. You should also collect and analyze feedback from your customers and stakeholders, and identify any issues or challenges that may arise. You should celebrate and reward your successes, and share your learnings and best practices with others. You should also review and update your metrics and benchmarks, and repeat the Lean benchmarking cycle regularly to ensure continuous improvement.

7 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?