Lean implementation in IT

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Permalink Reply by Vivekanandan M on March 18, 2009 at 11:26pm

Hello Visukumar,

The term "Lean" is used by six sigma guys! However CMM guys use "process tailoring" and CMM/ISO/Process-Centric organizations are using "process tailoring" for more than 8 years.

Best Regards,
Vivekanandan M

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Permalink Reply by Visukumar Gopal on March 19, 2009 at 1:22pm

Thanks Vivekanandan.

There are different tools available in Lean more specific to manufacturing industry. How these tools can be implemented in IT? Need some case studies to showcase all levels of people in Organization.

Regards

Visukumar

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Permalink Reply by Pavan Kota, CEO, KINDUZ on March 21, 2009 at 10:08am

Dear Visukumar,

One of the best implementation of Lean tools is the Agile Methodology. If you implement Lean Tools on a Waterfall Model, you will end up with the Agile Methodology.

A simple example is implementation of Poka-Yoke or Mistake Proofing.

Poka-Yoke has 4 main principles:
1) Elimination: Redesign the system to eliminate the chance of the error.
2) Facilitation: Provide methods of guidance, hard and soft, to minimize the chance of an error.
3) Mitigation: Lessen the effect of the error if the resulting defect gets to the customer.
4) Flagging: Proven methods for insuring 100% chance of capturing and removing all defective units prior to shipment.

In IT, occurrence of defects in code written is very common. Now if we have to implement Poka-Yoke this would mean the following:

1) Elimination: Implementation of Test-Driven Development
2) Facilitation: Review by experts, Code-checking tools
3) Mitigation: Improvement in error-resolution time, having onsite fixing personnel
4) Flagging: Again code-checking tools, audit/review checklists

Best regards,
Pavan Kota

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Permalink Reply by Visukumar Gopal on March 30, 2009 at 4:55pm

Thanks Pavan,

I don't want to implement LEAN along with CMM, Six Sigma, Agile. Based on my understanding we have to understand process map first. if there is no process map, we need to implement it.

When we have process map, we like to improve that either we can directly implement solution if we know else it is obvious we can go for workout and find solutions.

When we try to reduce cycle time then we need to go for DMAIC, if that time is bottle neck then we need to go for LEAN.

There should be a unique way to implement LEAN in IT to use the tools you have mentioned in your message.

Like to know that roadmap to implement LEAN sucessfully.

Regards

Visukumar

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Permalink Reply by Pavan Kota, CEO, KINDUZ on March 21, 2009 at 11:30am

Hi Vivekanandan,

Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, USA (the father of CMM's) defines tailoring as:

The act of adjusting the definitions and/or particularizing the terms of a general description to derive a description applicable to an alternate (less general) environment, e.g., tailoring the key practices of the software configuration management (SCM) key process area for use on a small project or tailoring the key practices of the SW-CMM to produce process requirements for an organization's standard software process.

Lean is a set of tools and techniques that are applied to all environments (not only 'less general' environments) to improve customer satisfaction by improving the process efficiency and effectiveness. Some of many Lean tools are:

Value Stream Mapping
Continuous Flow
5-S/Visual Controls
Kanban
Kaizen – Continuous Improvement
Quick Changeovers
Poka-Yoke (Mistake Proofing)
Pull Manufacturing
Visual Management
Kaikaku
Heijunka
Jidoka (Autonomation)

Best regards,
Pavan Kota

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