The Fact Hunter said:
Value Stream Analysis maps the processes through an event/operation and asks questions at each stage like 'can we get this cheaper/quicker/just in time'
Another 'American wave to hit the beach' from people who brought us ISO9000 and COSHH - to manage corporations like - 'McDonalds'
(...for whom it may have worked - but also where it should have stayed)
And Why should they be the only ones to benefit???
Why do you say it's an american thing? IT STARTED IN JAPAN!!!!!! came in long before ISO9000 as is still going strong afterwards!
Why can't you stupid people get it through your heads that Lean is the way forward and WORKS. the only thing that doesn't work is our Air Force. all lean is really doing is showing us that it doesn't work. the problems that people complain about are the same problems we have all been complaining about since the year dot. I fail to see why, when have never had spares of some items suddenly it's Lean's fault that we have no spares.
Lean is a philosphy, a better way of working - no-one can say that Lean methods are worse than our old ways, it's simply not true. Our Lean problems at the moment come from several area's-
a) It's not finished - we've barely started, you can't complain your car doesn't go if all you've built is a wheel. There are plenty of benefits already, but it will take time to get where it's going.
b) Lazy stupid managers who don't like change since it shows everything they haven't been paying attention to. There is little lean can do that common sense shouldn't have done already.
c) The same problems we've always had, it's just now people want to blame the new thing instead of the root cause - them.
d) People who simply do not understand what they are supposed to be doing. and have no intrest in making the RAF any better, even though some of them claim to love the RAF.
How about we look at some myths?
"Lean is getting rid of manpower" Not true. We've already gotten rid of manpower, through redundancy packages and natural wastage. Lean transformations are about COPING with the reductions already made not making them. With the exception of those already planning to leave in the next few years, we all still have jobs though you may have to accept a change in posting - which you should be used to.
"Lean took away all our spares and now the suppliers can't get us any" No, it took the mountains of stuff you didn't need, that was covering up the fact that you had no contract for resupply. Now that mountain is back in the chain for others to use, it's brought to the front this resupply problem - which is your problem to deal with, so why not solve it?
"Its just a fad, it'll go away like all the others" Yeah right, you said that about ISO9000, and now thats policy. Look around. do you really think they will just disolve to Core Lean teams, Business Improvement Teams, and others, Wipe away everything we've already changed, unsign the contracts, write off the money already paid? It's here, it's staying.
"Lean makes me go OOA" Because you really joined up to stay at home and work 9-5. If you are not prepared to go away, what are you doing in an expeditionary Air Force?
"Lean makes me work harder" You're paid to work. thats what we do. it's no more than you did before. Lean just takes away the things that stopped you working. You will not have to rush things through, or work any harder.
I could go on, but I don't need to. Either get with the program and be part of the solution, or leave. if you hate it that much why are you still here?
DT_Xtremez_34: if LEAN is so good then why has Lyneham got rid of most of the changes brought in and returned to a pre-LEAN unit and Why has Odiham gone so wrong since the introduction of this latest fasion !!