Thursday, 01 October 2009 13:01
In his foreword to the Guardian’s inaugural Lean Management supplement, SA Partners’ Chairman Peter Hines claims that “Lean has really exploded – it is mandatory for success in manufacturing, and is rapidly being taken up by services industries.”
Coinciding with a recession-induced call for cost-cutting across all sectors, the Lean Management report also included comment on Lean R&D from Per I. Nilsson, Head Technology and Innovation Management for global management consultancy Arthur D. Little.
The report features real-life case studies demonstrating how Lean implementation works, and what the bottom-line benefits are. Global logistics provider TNT, whose lean work was completed in conjunction with Breakthrough Management Group International, demonstrates how Lean’s customer-focus improves productivity and efficiency in this fast-paced sector. Leading UK retailer Argos’s successful Lean initiatives, which were completed alongside Lean consultancy SA Partners, was also featured.