The 9th Waste of Lean Management: Forgetting to Digitise

Introduction

In the realm of Lean management, the identification and elimination of process waste is crucial for process optimisation and efficiency. While traditional Lean principles focus on eight well-known wastes, our team of digital dinosaur hunters has discovered an emerging waste that demands attention: excessive manual activity.

Over the years this waste category has helped us shine a light on the need for additional automation and technology in today's fast-paced digital landscape.

In this article we explore the concept of excessive manual activity as the 9th waste of Lean and discuss how Lean management can be harnessed to facilitate automation and drive progress in the new digital era.

The Evolution of Lean Management

Lean management has long been associated with the pursuit of eliminating waste, enhancing productivity, and maximising value. Originating from the Toyota Production System, Lean principles have found application across various industries and processes. However, as the world evolves and embraces digitalisation, Lean management must adapt and embrace the potential of automation and technology to remain relevant and effective.

Although numbers vary depending on who you ask, from our experience in the field, U.S. C-Suite leaders who continue to rely on spreadsheets and slideshows to manage KPIs, projects and processes are costing their company up to $1,000 per week per team leader. And for those 'business leaders' who are not using anything singing their 'now is not the right moment' song may be paving their way to a golden chariot retirement but are most likely setting their companies up for big failures ahead.

Introducing the 9th Waste: Excessive Manual Activity

Traditionally, Lean management focused on the eight wastes: defects, overproduction, waiting, under-utilised talent, transportation, inventory, motion, and extra processing. With the rise of advanced technologies and the increasing complexity of business processes, a new waste has emerged—excessive manual activity. This waste highlights any process that relies heavily on manual labour and can benefit from additional automation and technology integration.

The Power of Lean and Automation Synergy

Recognising excessive manual activity as a waste not only expands the scope of Lean management but also aligns it with the demands of the digital era. It allows team leaders and process owners the mandate they need to integrate robust automation such as RPA, AI and Machine Learning into their Lean Toolkit which will in turn give a loud and clear message to staff that it is not only right to seek ways where automation can replace repetitive and mundane tasks, freeing up human resources to focus on higher-value activities, but also their duty. By strategically integrating technology into processes, Lean management empowers organisations to optimise efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance overall performance.

The Controversy and Reflection

The concept of excessive manual activity as a waste of Lean might raise eyebrows and stir debates. Critics argue that automation threatens job security and dehumanises workplaces. Those of us who not only have visibility to the daily business but are connected to the board room which is constantly eyeing customer service scores, competition and sales figures know however that it is essential to understand that Lean management in conjunction with automation, aims to enhance human potential rather than replace it.

By automating repetitive tasks, employees can shift their focus to become more creative and strategic in their work fostering innovation and personal growth. It is a shift from mindless manual labour to value-added activities that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Embracing the Digital Era or die

Digital tools may not replace your job but someone who knows how to use them better than you probably will. As organisations navigate through the challenges of digital transformation, Lean management serves as a guiding principle to unlock the full potential of automation. By embracing the 9th waste of Lean Management and leveraging technology, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, agility, and competitiveness. It is a paradigm shift that enables organisations to optimize processes, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional value to customers.

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO DIGITISE YOUR PROCESS CATALOGUE & ALL THAT SUPPORTS IT? TRY PRESTO P-D-C-A !

Conclusion

In an era defined by rapid digital transformation, Lean management must evolve to meet the changing needs of organisations. The identification of excessive manual activity as the 9th waste reflects the importance of automation and technology integration in Lean processes.

By harnessing the power of Lean and automation synergy, the company of the future will unlock new levels of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. As we reflect on Lean's journey, it becomes evident that embracing the digital era is not a deviation from Lean principles but a natural progression towards continuous improvement and sustained success.

BONUS - OUR DIGITAL WASTE CAPTURE DASHBOARD

Introducing our cutting-edge digital waste dashboard by PRESTO P-D-C-A, our platform designed to revolutionise waste capture and analysis for companies who appreciate that "having no problems is the worst problem of all" (T.Ohno).

In an era where organisations strive for sustainability and operational efficiency, our dashboard offers a streamlined and digitised approach to waste management. By giving each process owner easy accessibility to their digitised process catalogue and an easy to use waste capture survey, this dashboard provides a comprehensive solution that enables real-time data collection, analysis, and visualisation of waste streams.

PRESTO P-D-C-A empowers businesses to identify patterns, pinpoint areas of improvement, and make data-driven decisions to optimise waste reduction efforts. With user-friendly interfaces, customisable metrics, and intuitive reporting features, waste reporting simplifies the complex task of process waste management allowing companies to embark on their digital transformation journey with confidence.

Say goodbye to manual processes and embrace the future of waste management with PRESTO P-D-C-A

About the Author

Andrew Lenti ?has been working with multinational organisations involved in business transformation initiatives since 1999. In that time he has been based in 6 different European countries as well as the United States. He has rich experiences working with business leaders at all levels of the organisational hierarchy and has spent vast amounts of time working with shared services and outsourcing centres of excellences on lean management and business restructuring implementation projects. He is one of the co-founders of?TOPP Tactical Intelligence Ltd , a European operational excellence software provider and is one of the original architects of?PRESTO P-D-C-A , the all-in-one continuous improvement business management system for growth-oriented companies and consulting firms looking to put work, strategy deployment and process improvement on autopilot.

To learn more about PRESTO P-D-C-A, read case studies and client testimonials, visit?www.toppti.com ?or contact Andrew directly on?LinkedIn .