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Training Programs
Lean / 5S Products Store
All Kallista Consulting
training programs can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your
organisation. For more information, please call us on
1800 088 494
or email us at
info@kallistaconsulting.com.au
Kallista
Consulting is a registered business in Victoria, Australia.
3 O'Connors Rd
The Patch Vic 3792
Australia
ABN
59322983162
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Kallista Consulting Case Study
5S Pilot
Implementation at the Department of Human Services Victoria |
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 We’ve
all heard the catch cries of “we need to do more with less” and “work
smarter – not harder”. Unfortunately, these are not often accompanied
with a set of defined tools and methodologies to identify and
capitalise on any existing efficiency opportunities.
Enter
Visual Workplace Management, commonly known as ‘5S’. Part of the lean
thinking toolbox developed within the manufacturing sector, 5S has now
matured and expanded into the office and administrative environments
with great success. Government departments across Australia are now
actively adopting visual management practices with immediate
measurable benefits in increased safety, efficiency, better use of
space and reductions in wasteful practices.
5S is a
popular starting point for an operational improvement campaign because
of its ease of implementation, its immediate visible impact and its
ready acceptance amongst employees. Indeed, a properly implemented 5S
program has tangible cultural benefits, with positive influences on
morale and on the willingness of employees to accept and implement
change. |
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As the
name suggests, 5S follows five simple principles for organising and
managing an office workplace, Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Sustain
and Standardise. Each principle is supported by proven
techniques that establish standard approaches across the workplace.
Methods for evaluating the progress in work areas also help to
entrench the principles as ongoing improvement tools, rather than a
once off quick fix.
In a
recent example, the Doing Business Better team at the Department of
Human Services in Victoria, supported by consultant Chris Baker of
Kallista Consulting, conducted a pilot implementation of 5S across
their work area over an 8 week period to evaluate the potential
benefits. Apart from an immediate push on the Sort principle as a
launch activity, most of the implementation work was conducted in
between existing work demands.
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As a
result they removed a huge quantity of unused office equipment and
materials from their immediate workplace, including a staggering 236kg
of paper. This reduced clutter significantly and created a far more
pleasant work environment in itself, but that was only the starting
point.
By
creating standard filing protocols for hard copy and electronic
information, they calculate savings of over 140 hours per year in lost
time alone due to no longer having to spend time searching for or
re-creating documents that can’t be located quickly.
They
also freed up floor space, reduced holdings of consumables and
reviewed location of equipment to make standard processes flow more
efficiently through the office.
Visual
cues now help other staff requiring their services to quickly locate
the team and find the information they need as well as highlighting
the correct location, use and maintenance of office equipment. |
The huge volume of unused
material removed from an area occupied by just four desks |
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The
implementation of standard email archiving procedures reduced their
email server storage bill by almost $3000 per annum. In fact, the
overall total savings are estimated by the Doing Business Better team
to be more than $20,000 per annum.
And
remember that’s across just 4 desks! Based on these numbers, the
potential of a broad implementation within a large department cannot
be ignored.
Getting
started does require a training commitment but this is comparatively
light. It is important for all employees working in areas targeted for
5S to receive training in the principles and methodologies. A day of
training, which can be broken into staged half day sessions, depending
on your needs and staff availability, generally provides all of the
tools and theory needed to make the initial gains and begin
documenting savings and improvements. Nominate several 5S Champions to
get additional training on supporting 5S Implementations and drive the
process internally. Ongoing independent review and coaching is also
recommended to support ongoing maintenance of new standards and
continuous improvement.
An office desk before
and after conducting 5S Sort and Set In Order. Clutter and unused
items have been removed leaving only what is needed located where it
is needed |
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