Lean Product Suite
The tools and techniques that make up the Lean Manufacturing suite help organizations improve performance and eliminate waste. These tools allow organizations to create additional value for customers. A primary goal of Lean Manufacturing is to eliminate waste; that is, anything that does not add value to the final product. In this respect, large inventories are seen as a type of waste that carries a high cost. Tools in this suite include Lean Overview, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Standard Work, Project Management Services, and Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED), among others.
Theory of Constraints (TOC)
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a system-based management approach that provides the means to optimize organizational performance. According to TOC, every organization has, at any given point in time, at least one constraint which limits the system’s performance relative to its goal. These constraints can be broadly classified as either an internal constraint or a market constraint. In order to manage the performance of the system, the constraint must be identified and managed correctly.
TOC, a Lean tool, is a useful methodology for managing production / service delivery planning and scheduling. TOC provide a series of tools that allows companies to identify and resolve critical bottlenecks (the most overloaded resources that determine the throughput or maximum flow rate of production/service delivery) and makes value flow through these bottlenecks. TOC allows organizations to optimize production / service delivery through their critical bottlenecks in order to meet market demand. SCMEP’s TOC training and consulting services are designed to allow companies to understand TOC principles, practices and processes so that they can quickly and effectively manage constraints within their organization’s value streams, optimize flow and increase profits.
Lean Six Sigma
As a methodology to improve process performance using a structured, project-oriented approach, Lean Sigma is one of the most powerful process improvement methodologies in business today. Lean Six Sigma is being utilized widely among a variety of manufacturers, hospitals, financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, and others to improve customer satisfaction and save millions of dollars a year. It is a proven methodology to achieve continuous breakthrough performance. SCMEP offers training and certification programs for Yellow, Green, and Black Belt levels.