Lean Information Systems

By: Aza Badurdeen
Submitted: 2007-01-17 11:53:53
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

It is the information age without any doubt. This is because information is available to everyone faster and easier. But this doesn’t mean all this information is required or useful. We still have to use this information effectively and efficiently in order to create value to the system. Lean manufacturing concepts can be used in streamlining your information flow.

A lean information system is essential for the success of any lean manufacturing system. Without this synchronization it is impossible to have a good lean manufacturing facility. Most of the organizations have very poor information systems. For an example many organizations use email in day to day communication. They use many contacts on their CC lists to keep people informed. But in many instances these people are not directly involved in the process and they do not need this piece of information. Think for a moment. How many valuable man hours are wasted in this? This kind of information handling can also lead to confusions.

Every waste mentioned in manufacturing context can be identified in the context of communication as well. Overloading of information corresponds to over production. Waiting is common for both manufacturing and communication. Avoiding all these wastes can make your information system lean.

Information must be available for required parties when they are required, in other words just in time. This will make your system much more responsive and less complicated. No one should be overloaded with information. Only required information must be passed to the parties relevant. Data accumulation should not be allowed. Data must be directed to the people who use it. Longer channel lengths can create distortion and delays in the process of communication. This will create your lean information system.

In summery, to have a successful lean manufacturing system we must have an efficient information handling system. All the wastes in manufacturing context are applicable in the context of information handling.

Aza Badurdeen is a process engineer, consultant and a lean manufacturing author. You can refer his FREE E e-book “lean manufacturing basics” to get more information on lean manufacturing and related concepts.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Management category

  • Employee involvement - By: john david
    Employee involvement involves the creation of an environment wherein people are involved in the decision making process that have an impact on the decisions and the actions that have a bearing on the jobs.
  • Work from Home Based Business With 7 Secrets of Internet Millionaires - By: Gagan kainth
    The external and internal secrets of Internet millionaires are explored. Find out what the Internet millionaires know that has made them so successful.
  • The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Community Association Management Company - By: James Small
    Throughout the industry, HOA Management Companies overload their community managers by giving them too many homeowners associations to manage
  • Things to think about before hiring an accountant - By: Michiel Van Kets
    Locating a good honest accountant is not as simple as you would think. The majority of us looks in a local directory and chooses the first one who answers the phone.
  • A Chartered Accountant Can Help You In Many Ways - By: Michiel Van Kets
    The function of a chartered accountant can be intricate to understand, the majority just associates them with tax returns.
  • Considerable Factors involved in Product Creation & Marketing - By: Kamal Kant Gupta
    The niche you have chosen should allow creation of more than one product or service. With the technological advancements in the hosting industry, from automated control panels and scripts that simplify creation of accounts, to complete turnkey solutions; there is no need to worry about spending time on the real products sold to the customer.
  • No One Wants To Hear They Have An Ugly Baby - By: Rene Jones
    It's time to admit you have an, "Ugly Baby!" Or, in distribution terminology, "Admit your warehouse is in shambles!" If your warehouse has returns that sit around for days without being processed, "Your warehouse is in shambles." If your warehouse has receiving that does not get received for days, then once it is received it sits again before it is put away, "Your warehouse is in shambles!" If your customer service personnel spend more time in the warehouse checking stock, because your inventory is so inaccurate, "Your warehouse is in shambles!"
  • Make your Sales Team the Best with Excellent Sales Training - By: John McLean
    An article that shows you how to get the best sales team with the best training courses
  • Highlighting The Benefits Of Project Management Training - By: Gurinder Singh
    Project management is one of the important processes of an organization for the simple reason that it answers a lot of your questions and adds order to the company. With this, project management training is important to ensure that you have the right skills and knowledge when it comes to doing project management.
  • Benefits of Management are Essential for Business - By: Avesh Dahiya
    During the implementation of project, the benefits manager has to check whether the benefits are being achieved within the specified time frame. Therefore helps the management in selecting the right projects.