Lean manufacturing is an approach that focuses on minimizing waste, increasing efficiency and delivering maximum value to the customer. Lean Audit is about applying lean principles to the internal audit process. In this blog post, we will discuss the details of Lean Audit. Definition of Lean Manufacturing Lean manufacturing is an approach that aims to increase efficiency by minimizing waste in production processes. It defines any activity that does not create value as waste and aims to eliminate these wastes. Streamlining processes, eliminating waste and optimizing the flow of materials and information are the main focal points of lean manufacturing. Lean technique adopts 5 basic principles to achieve its goals: Customer Value: Lean manufacturing considers anything that the customer does not value as waste. Therefore, its most important goal is to understand the customer’s needs and provide the product/service that they will value. Value Flow: This principle analyzes the entire life cycle of a process from raw materials to the final product. Thus, by understanding the process from beginning to end, it determines the necessary steps to create value for the customer. Flow: This principle focuses on the continuation of processes without interruption and the completion of production with minimal delays. Pull: The pull principle avoids wasted inventory by producing only what is demanded. Excellence: the principle of excellence involves the continuous review of processes through continuous improvement. In short, Lean principles are based on improving product quality, increasing customer satisfaction, reducing errors and improving production time and costs. Definition of Lean Audit Lean audits are systematic reviews to determine whether lean manufacturing principles are applied in production processes and whether they are included in the workflow. This audit evaluates the effectiveness of the processes by examining how each step is performed in lean production, where creating value for the customer and customer satisfaction is the focus. Steps to Implement a Lean Audit Defining the Goal The main objective of a lean audit is to assess the extent to which the organization has successfully implemented and sustained lean methodologies. In this evaluation process, the effectiveness of existing lean processes is analyzed and improvement potentials are identified. Planning for the Audit Prior to the audit, management should create checklists for each business area to set the required standards and identify potential issues. Dividing the workplace into different areas improves the efficiency of the audit process and provides a thorough review of the process. Applying Lean Principles to the Audit Process Lean standards may require clear and visible placement of signs, labels and warnings in specific areas. This ensures transparent communication of processes and standards in the workplace. Lean Audit Report Lean audit reports should be focused and efficient to make the desired improvements of the system. These reports should clearly identify strengths and weaknesses in the audited processes. Furthermore, the reports should identify potential risks and provide concrete recommendations for corrective action plans. Digital Checklist Software Oneri.io is a continuous improvement platform. It has a total of 9 modules on continuous improvement and lean production processes: Digital Checklist Software Kaizen 5S Audit Management Employee Suggestion System Near Miss Reporting Lesson Learned Action Management Customer Demand Management A3 Problem Solving Digital Audit Software enables businesses to digitally manage all audits related to production, maintenance, OHS, quality and continuous improvement processes on a single platform. This module allows you to manage audit processes effectively and efficiently. You can contact us for more information about oneri.io and its modules.
