In an earlier post, Roadmap to Successful LEAN Implementations, we discussed the identification, communication, involvement and buy-in of LEAN transformations. Once these preliminary steps have been taken, it’s time to start executing your project! Define measurable outcomes and key roles Like any well-run project, it is important to define expectations at the outset: How will…
A 2009 survey of senior executives and project managers worldwide found that “80% of survey respondents believe that having project management as a core competency has helped their company to remain competitive during the current economic turndown.”1 Eighty percent. That’s a lot. Impact: Solidify project confidence The project manager’s responsibilities include building a project plan…
Much has been said and written about the benefits of LEAN, both for manufacturing organizations and office environments. While cutting out waste in your organization and saving money, you also can improve the way you serve your customers. It’s a “twofer” that starts many companies on a journey to increased revenues. However, for those who…
When you’re the Project Manager of a large effort, it can either be an adrenalin rush or a little unnerving when everyone is looking to you for the perfect result. You must balance risk, effort and cost control to deliver a successful project. Be diligent with your efforts to gather status updates from all parties…
Looking to ensure a more successful shopping experience for customers to build more loyalty, trust and revenue? Then take a closer look at LEAN methodologies to reduce or eliminate waste in your company’s e-commerce processes, just as they have improved production processes for years. Research has shown e-commerce shoppers will tend to return to web…
Freight cost per mile (FCPM) is a powerful cost analysis tool to help your business significantly reduce freight costs. How significant? One of our clients realized a 45% reduction. Read on! If you know the actual FCPM you paid for a specific time period per carrier/transportation provider, you can start making relevant comparisons to identify…
How to avoid big surprises to stay on time and budget It’s easy to simply say, “Do all things well and you’ll be a success.” However, there are at least four aspects of Project Management that carry more weight than others: 1. Initiate your plan Break your plan down into workable, prioritized phases and assign…
A project is a temporary assignment with a targeted date range and expected results. So how do you make your projects highly successful versus spinning out of control? Selecting and assigning a well-qualified project manager is your best course of action for achieving success. To name a few examples, a project manager can help your…
How to uncover and eliminate wastes to reduce costs and meet customer expectations You may have read a lot about LEAN — including our last post about how a manufacturer applied it to its finance department to achieve an improved month-end close cycle. You also may have heard what it can do for manufacturing and…
The concept of LEAN has been around since the inception of the Toyota Production System decades ago. Its fundamental tenet is the elimination of waste, which results in improved quality, lower cost, faster delivery times, and ultimately greater customer satisfaction. LEAN is frequently associated with manufacturing processes. However, the same concepts and approaches can be…
