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02/16/2011 04:29 PM
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Is there any research in progress or application of tools and techniques to education services like MBA , ENGINEERING colleges , OR any other univerisites to achieve the excellency in service and out put, if so is it necessary to treat , "Administration", "faculty",and "students" as a seperate areas or it can be treated wholestically as one setup like manufacturing /organisational setup of input output concept and apply the same tools and techniques, please guide me for my acadamic purpose.
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02/17/2011 12:19 PM
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Education is no different than any other "Service Business." You need to look at the entire process as a holistic system. Don't approach it piece meal. It is not about the use of tools, it is about increasing the quality of the output (more educated sudents). Break the paradigm that it costs more to get improvements and embrace the paradigm that reducing costs (the right way) increases effectiveness/quality and efficiency at the same time.
Follow the scientific approach to get you there.
I, along with other Lean Six Sigma experts that included educators, just launched a book on the subject Driving Operational Excellence (available through Amazon). It presents a roadmap for success with proven case studies on how to improve operations. We also have a website for the book under the same name.
Start the journey now!
Charles
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04/12/2011 09:24 AM
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Have you encountered any challenges from academics when implementing Lean in HE establishments and if so what were they and how did you overcome them?
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04/13/2011 01:15 PM
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Catherine,
I worked within the community college level on lean implementation. I found opportunities existing all over the place but a difficult environment to get change supported in. It is an interesting conflict of high bureaucracy and high independent thoughts and silos. I also have never worked with more creative people. I have thought through solutions to many of the specific areas of opportunity but have little data to support success as I left the environment just as real interest was being generated.
Areas that I saw issues with were:
Asset utilization - both educators and classrooms.
planning for incoming change in protential students
silos of operation - divisions and the standard administration ones
Being Driven by funding - rapid change of directions and courses needed
Maintaining creative freedom
Overall Bureaucracy and weight of the system
Balancing needs of faculty, students and businesses - VOC and even how to read it
project completion - on time and meeting needs
Solutions that potentially help achieve the lean improvement
Asset utilization;- OEE type of approach - you have a production design capability based on classrooms
- You have a specific number of operators - teachers/instructors
- you have a specific number of products - students
OEE does not solve the issues but does allow you a measurement of what is happening so that the right questions are being asked. We went through many ups and downs of programs without really addressing the 5 whys or root causes, we tended to be passive observers as a result.
Planning on incoming changes in student population: This one I look at more from a six sigma view of what are my demographics and what is happening to the population that is my source. The six sigma helps to ensure that the problem being looked at is real, not just normal variation.
silos of operation
Simple answer is the VSM process. It is difficult to implement in the environment as the desire to first idea solve or philosophize (you get both) is very high. You must get through the entire present state to get the buy in of everyone prior to going to the future state. The point of the work is to get everyone to see the processs through the "woods" of the divisions or the process verses the structure view.
Driven by funding; Most community colleges are short on funding and are put in the position of chasing funds for new curriculum to get some funds that also benefit the "old Stuff". This creates a huge waste since the coordination of new and present along with VOC is normally lacking if it even exists. New programs tend to be run by people new the college and the people do not know the culture or requirements. People are willing to help but you have to know the right question to ask as there is no process other than the application for funds.
The best help here would be a standardize work approach so that people know what is needed and expected. Planning of the type you are most comfortable with (except none). Questions of how are we integrating this into our other programs?; What is the source of applicants and how are we going to reach them? What will the business's that hire these graduates be wanting and where are these business? A generic project outline would be great.
Maintaining creative freedom- Standardize work and organized time with trained people, who can make the time useful, and people tend to jump at opportunity to do better. Issue that I routinely saw was lack of defined problem and measurable result. Need the line of sight tie to the goals of the University.
Overall Bureaucracy - There are many standards and non-value added requirements that have been generated over the years. The lean approach of process mapping and VSM are good tools to show the impact and ask what is the root cause of this and can we do something that will meet the needs of the student/business and reporting needs. The true cost of the delivery of products will get attention in a budget constrained time. Support at the top is critical to make improvement in this area.
Voice of Customer (VOC) There are many needs and it is difficult to pare it down to a realistic size to work on. The best way to focus that I have found is the use of cause and effect matrices. It allows you to gather data from the stakeholders and have them participate in ranking the needs. This area is a major weakenss in my opinion. A proper survey or supplier/customer relationship is needed to obtain this information. I have used a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) approach to get the needs of the industry and cross reference it to course objectives. It is a great buy in and course evaluation tool.
Project Management - People are very busy in the academic situation and keeping the focus on completing a project properly is often an issue. Project management, clear goals/expectations and report out is needed.
Not sure if this helps - be glad to discuss more if you wish.
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04/15/2011 12:31 PM
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I had a first experience with the administration office of a public university of Seville, Spain. The results are spectaculars by aplying takt time, VSM, creating a pacemaker and changing the layout of the office, including the ways to attend the studentes and teachers.
The challenge is to achieve people to share the works and be more polyvalent, instead the situation before with "owners" of the jobs: I begin with this, I continue untill the end with this. What happend when the customer need something and you aren't at office?
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04/15/2011 12:31 PM
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GOOD TO READ- THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES- THANKS FOR TAKING AHEAD THE DISCUSSION
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04/18/2011 12:42 PM
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I have spent a few years working in a post secondary institution. The existing management was not interested in cross functional collaboration or empowering workers to make decisions. I worked in a department that produced curriculum. This involved working with many different specialists (media, lms, writers, and subject matter experts).There was great opportunity to improve productivity, increase flow, reduce re-work and errors, but management was only interested in short -term metrics e.g. number of courses produced. My Ph D research is about introducing lean product development principles in an instructional design environment which had great potential in such an environment. However, my research site ended up being in the manufacturing sector.
There are a few thesis's on applying lean tools to various processes in education institutions but they do not introduce lean as system. Unfortunately, they position lean more like a set of tools.
Good luck with your research.
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07/18/2011 10:44 AM
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Dear All
Can anyone refer to me any document regarding the above topic to assisst me in introducing the Lean thinking to the faculty's processes....
Have you ever crossed a systematic approach on the best way to do it?
regards
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07/18/2011 11:55 AM
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Contact Bob Emilani at Central Connecticut State University. He's doing some great work applying Lean to acadamia.
Mario (Bob) Emiliani - Professor
Manufacturing and Construction Management Department
Central Connecticut State University
emilianibob@ccsu.edu (Primary) School Phone (860) 832-3229
Good luck,
Bill Curran
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03/28/2012 05:35 PM
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hey yes.. Lean can use for Education institute too.. i Used if for IT education industry..as a consultant.. it worked..
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11/29/2012 08:26 AM
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Cardiff University in UK has a post graduate track for applying Lean to the service sector. Does anyone know if there is a similar program at an American University?
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01/02/2013 10:08 AM
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I am working on application of lean practices in education please send your e mail so that we can share our thoughts
Thanks
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