In times of growing uncertainty, the implementation of lean management is key to long-term survival, Patrick Edelmann, president of Canadian landscaping contractor Edelweis explains to Commercial Outdoor Design how to adopt the Kaizen method
What is the Kaizen method of lean management?
One of the services offered by Edelweis is the implementation of Lean Management in Landscaping Firms. Kaizen is one of the different ways to implement Lean Management.
Lean Management itself is a procedure applied in production or management with the objective of reducing any activity that is not directly oriented toward the creation of value for the end customer.
Lean Management aims for the reduction of production cycle duration, the reduction of stock, a better productivity and the optimization of quality.
Kaizen is the methodology used by Toyota. The term Kaizen means continuous improvement; whereas the occidental way would often be to put down everything and start from scratch, Kaizen is done progressively and takes into account the human factor.
Its goal goes beyond simple productivity improvement. It is also a process which, when done correctly, humanizes the workplace, eliminates strenuous work and teaches people how to perform experiments at work using the scientific method and how to learn to spot and eliminate waste in business.
People at all levels of an organization can participate in Kaizen. The format can be individual, small group, or large group.
An efficient application of Kaizen requires motivation and actions from all the people involved.
Kaizen methodology includes making changes and monitoring results, then adjusting. As it is an ongoing process, it allows much flexibility in regularly implementing small improvements for an overall important increase of productivity.
How can the Kaizen method apply in particular to the landscaping industry?
Lean Management implies a scientific analysis using specific methodologies of all the activities done by all the members of the team to identify any step that could be done in a different way to be more efficient, or simply be eliminated because it is found not to be related to the creation of value for the end customer.
The conception and implementation of landscaping involves many steps and many workers. At every stage there is often an opportunity to improve productivity, sometimes as simple as the way the tools are used or, more complicated, the ergonomic installations, a tighter planification or a more accurate evaluation of the material needed, etc.
All the members of the teams are involved in the process. Because we use the Kaizen methodology, it is done on a continuous basis, making changes regularly, monitoring the results then adjusting for a continuous improvement.
Site Map
\
FEATURED COMMENT
Please click here to comment on this article