Employee's Should be Involved in Your Companies Lean Manufacturing Plan

The process of lean manufacturing is not just a matter of the type of machinery a plant has. Instead it is dependant on the personnel of the corporation.

The goal of lean manufacturing is achieved though the human resources of the company, using the machinery as tools to meet the goal.

There is a perception that the system of lean manufacturing puts a lot of pressure on personnel to perform. While there is some truth to that belief, many people actually prefer to work in a lean manufacturing system.

One big advantage for workers in a lean manufacturing system is that they are a major part of the company’s decision making process. In order to improve operations and prevent waste employees are actively encouraged to make suggestions and take action. This level of employee involvement helps to improve morale and employee performance.

Work cell concepts are commonly used to achieve the goals of lean manufacturing. When we speak of work cells it is more than just rearranging the machinery, it is having a group of people work differently than they would if they were on a factory assembly line. In lean manufacturing workers are trained in several tasks, making the system much more flexible. It also gives the worker more freedom and responsibility. It also frees them up from the monotony of repeating one task over and over each and every day.

Lean manufacturing plants have a more organic organizational structure. Each worker is a leader in their own area of expertise and you don’t see a big hierarchical structure. Each individual is important to the entire structure and empowered to make day to day decisions. This allows each employee, no matter what their role in the company, to feel like a vital piece of the whole.

When it comes to lean manufacturing no one piece is more important than another, as they all have an important role to play. Everyone is part of the lean manufacturing system, no matter what department they make work in. In this type of environment people feel appreciated and are motivated to contribute even more. There is no other way to create this sense of family and loyalty.

The stages of motivation were outlined by Maslow in his theory of motivation. The bottom line is that money will not really motivate people, but a real sense that they are appreciated will. The higher levels of motivation outlined by Maslow are directly addressed in many of the lean manufacturing techniques including team building, work cells, and Kaizen. Some of they key motivating factors that are addressed by these processes include self-actualization, self-esteem, and affiliation. In order for lean manufacturing to be successful you will need a disciplined and organized workforce. This type of workforce should not be hard to create using the types of motivation discussed above.