METHODOLOGY
The first step in lean manufacturing approach is conducting a self assessment for the operating condition. It will
provide feedback regarding the capability. After completing the lean assessment, move on to the next phase
which is documenting the current state gap. The current state gap provides the baseline measure of where the
company is today. Future state design is the third phase where the project team puts together an overall concept
design on how the site should operate. Then the implementation of manufacturing can be conducted through a
series of stages via ‘Kaizen events’.
For the assessment of current manufacturing system, observation and audit had been made to the shop floor. An
interview and site visit to the company has been done to assess the current manufacturing system. The results of
assessments were presented by using several types of tools such as Spaghetti Diagram, 5S Audit, Gap Analysis,
Fishbone Diagram and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis.
The Spaghetti Diagram was used to trace the path and distance traveled throughout the process. It exposed
unnecessary travel distance between process steps and overall process waste. The Fishbone Diagram was
constructed to explore the sources of variation in the process. It displays a few key sources that contribute most
significantly to the problems being examined. The SWOT Analysis was used for analyzing the internal value
(strength and weakness) and the external value (opportunities and threats) of the company. 5S Audit maintaining
on orderly workplace and using visual cues to achieve more consistent operational results. The practice of 5S
aims to embed the values of organization, neatness, cleaning, standardization and discipline into the workplace.
A few key areas of manufacturing were analyzed used Gap Analysis. It shows the gap between the actual target
in current state and the lean targets.
The current state value stream mapping is shown in Figure 1. Developing a current state map involves four
stages as describe below:
a) Gather details about the customer’s requirements.
b) Detail the physical flow with all processes, data boxes and inventory triangles.
c) Map the supply materials.
d) Map the information flows and determine push and pull system.
In future value stream mapping, the process for designing the continuous flow will be performed in line
balancing which used the Yamazumi board technique. The takt time is determined to find out whether current
production meets customer demand. Then, the future state map is to plan and map the flow as shown in Figure