ABSTRACT
The objective of a holistic Enterprise Lean Transformation is the alignment of an enterprise's focus, processes, and resources across all value streams to maximize customer value while minimizing waste across the enterprise. One of the real challenges of any enterprise or business transformation is determining the organization's appetite for change. At the start of a transformation initiative, lean practitioner must complete an assessment of the business's current ways of working and identify improvement opportunities. The case story is about a Japanese white-goods manufacturing site in Southeast Asia. The company was facing very strong cost-competition from many Chinese appliance manufacturers. The Routing By Walking Around is one tool to establish a baseline of current process metrics and identify opportunities for improvement. Value Stream Mapping is the mapping of the flow of material, product, and information through each value stream. The goal is to promote uninterrupted flow throughout the value stream, from suppliers to the external customers.
