GM spreads the wealth

Lean may be coming soon to an office near you. At least that's the goal of the international Lean Service Summit sponsored by member organizations of the Lean Global Network, to be held June 23-24 in Amsterdam.

Presentations by global manufacturers and others will highlight process improvements achieved applying lean management principles to processes beyond the factory floor.

"We're seeing companies apply the lean process mentality to activities where people have complained nothing can be done," says Jim Womack, president and founder of Lean Enterprise Institute, Brookline, Mass. "[There is] evidence that people can make effective lean process changes beyond the factory floor, including purchasing, personnel, engineering, accounting, and general administration."

Womack cited General Motors (GM) as a prime example, although the company has long been criticized by lean proponents for being slow to implement the principles inspired by the Toyota production management system. Deciding not merely to match Toyota in the plant, GM is seeking efficiencies in the office that may reduce costs, improve productivity, and add greater value to customer relationships.

"GM's challenge was to change the performance of 'the average,'" says Womack.

The company has created a senior VP position, reporting directly to the president and tasked with bringing lean to all areas of the company, adds Womack. Senior VP Kent Sears will make a four-hour presentation at the Amsterdam conference about GM's team effort.

For more information on the Lean Service Summit in Amsterdam, go to www.leanuk.org.