LEAN manufacturing processes are one of the most effective tools for a continual and sustainable development. They not only help the manufacturers cope up with the increasing competition but also help in creating a more holistic operating environment along with an increase in productivity and improvement in efficiency that guides the way towards a continual and sustainable development. However, many a time, manufacturers face a lot of trouble in with resistance to LEAN. This can be overcome by pulling LEAN instead of pushing it.
The term ‘pull’ has a very clear and direct meaning i.e. pulling only those things off the shelves that matters in achieving the desired goals and numbers. Analysis of the processes and controls acts as a catalyst in the entire process and adds precision to the implementation of the strategies. Under ‘pull’ a detailed study and analysis of the production processes help one in understanding the obstacles and flow of work processes. It also allows one to create a dashboard with precise data about the things that are required namely, raw materials, and workforce etc. to make the continual improvement process a success.
What we do in ‘pull’ is absolutely contrasting to what we do in ‘push’. Instead of making inventories, planning services and predicting things based on the historical data of ‘push’ processes, one anchor LEAN in the manufacturing processes. It implements the concepts and its practices in the workplace rather than creating a model which would be implemented on the old staircases with weak foundations. Moreover, pushing LEAN is not people-centric while pulling resonates with the workforce motivating them to be a part of the system and steer it towards the goal.
Difference between Pull and Push in Lean Manufacturing
Pulling LEAN is all about knowing the facts, getting aware of the requirements, knowing where and when to implement LEAN and the technique that is required to form a precise application of LEAN tools. Pulling LEAN also helps the manufacturer stay in the run with the demands. While integrating push processes and controls, one is more likely to lose customers with demands exceeding the capacity of the manufacturing facility. On the other hand, amidst all the other benefits, pull also encourages the sigil of productivity into the manufacturing processes and helps the producer in coping up with the increasing demands. Furthermore, pulling LEAN also helps the manufacturer to focus on the efficiency of the product and keep it up with the standards.
Pulling LEAN relieves the capacity constraints from the manufacturer and helps him in observing and analyzing them to observe the difference and collect the data. The data collected can act as a proof and one can motivate more and more people to believe in pulling LEAN and encourage them to integrate into the work culture and manufacturing processes.
Getting the data collected, analyzing it for achieving the better and studying it for precise implementation of LEAN tools is what pulling LEAN is all about. Leadership should start understanding this and start ‘pulling’ more.
Written & Compiled By Faber Kishlay & Faber Mayuri
