Continuous Improvement: Lean Management for JPR Tiling Consultants

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of how lean management techniques can aid in the continuous improvement of operations management, using JPR Tiling Consultants Limited as a case study. The introduction establishes the context of lean management and its importance in today's competitive business environment, followed by a detailed theoretical background, rationale, research questions, and a thorough literature review. The methodology section outlines the research approach, including qualitative research, an inductive approach, and an interpretivism research philosophy. The report explores various lean management techniques such as Kaizen, 5S, and Kanban, assessing their impact on operations management and addressing challenges faced during implementation. The justification and contextualization section emphasizes the significance of the research and its relevance to the company. The conclusion summarizes the findings, and the references section provides a list of sources used throughout the study. This analysis offers valuable insights into the application of lean principles for improving efficiency and productivity within the context of a tiling contractor business.

ETHICS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH FOCUS-...............................................................3
Background.............................................................................................................................................3
Rationale.................................................................................................................................................3
Research Questions.................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review....................................................................................................................................4
JUSTIFICATION AND CONTEXTUALIZATION...................................................................................7
Importance of this research and important to find what researcher are trying to find..............................7
MENTHODOLOGY...................................................................................................................................8
Research types.........................................................................................................................................8
Research approach...................................................................................................................................8
Research philosophy/Paradigm................................................................................................................8
Research design.......................................................................................................................................8
Data collection.........................................................................................................................................9
Data analysis...........................................................................................................................................9
Sampling.................................................................................................................................................9
Access and ethics.....................................................................................................................................9
Limitations............................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................11

Topic- “An analysis of how lean management techniques can aid the continuous improvement of
operations management of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited
INTRODUCTION
Lean management is one of the best approaches used by many companies or businesses
to manage their daily activities (Sanders and et.al., 2017). It supports concept of continuous
improvement or betterment, it define as a long term method to work that systematically seeks to
achieve incremental and small changes in procedure in order to enhance quality and efficiency.
Kaizen, Poka Yoke and other types of techniques consist with lean management that affects
productivity and profitability level rather than before.
The current study is based upon JPR Tiling Consultants Limited operating their business
in UK. This company was founded by Julian Brown and Andrew Segre, they established as one
of the leading specialist tiling contractors in London. Thus, these methods or procedures are to
be undertaken to improve operations management through conducting this investigation and also
using several approach to carry this research in ethical manner.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH FOCUS-
Background
In recent time, due to globalization corporate and other sector face many issues as it
increase the competition level high than before. Each and every organization efforts to become a
market leader and gain competitive advantages, they used several techniques and methods to
improve their operational efficiencies and manage operations in effective manner. Lean
management is helpful and useful method appropriate for managing operations management
(Biazzo, Panizzolo and de Crescenzo, 2016). It refers to technique created and used with aim of
minimizing procedure waster and increasing value of services or products. To carry research,
study is based upon JPR Tiling Consultants Limited which incorporated on 2012.

Rationale
It can be said that to gain competitive benefits and become a leader in specific sector or
market organizations must adopt and implement effective techniques that enhance operational
efficiency more than before. In respect of conducting this study, the reason behind selecting
current topic is relating to evaluating benefits which firms obtain after implementing lean
management techniques that help to improve operations management. Researcher is interested to
know the fact about how lean management techniques can support the continuous improvement
of operations management. Thus, it is interesting to collect data from varied sources regarding
lean management techniques which companies adapted to improve production operations.
Aim
The aim of this study is to analyze how lean management techniques can help continuous
improvement of operations management. A case study on JPR Tiling Consultants Limited.
Objectives
 To develop understanding about the concept of lean management.
 To determine the lean management techniques that can be used in operations
management.
 To identify the impact of lean management techniques on operations management.
 To assess the challenges faces by JPR Tiling Consultants Limited while implementing
lean management methods.
 To recommend Lean management techniques to JPR Tiling Consultants Limited with
regards to the enhancement of production and other operations.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of lean management?
 What are the impacts on operations management of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited from
lean management techniques?
 What are the challenges faced by organization when they implement lean management
techniques?

Literature Review
Concept of lean management-
According to Kornegay, (2020) lean is important for high value producing, it is
complementary to strategic decision making regarding production. For the past few years,
competition among companies in varied sector is getting tougher and hence tiling contractors
across the world are under persistent pressure to reduce costs and maintaining top level of quality
while at the same period meeting expectation of consumers. Lean management is considered as
programme of activities as well as techniques for running a service or manufacturing operation.
It becomes a global management tool used for delivering value & optimizing work procedures.
The purpose of this concept is developing value to target market by using available resources.
Parkhi, (2019) argued that there is no surprise that lean management is now increased
across sectors, because of their positive impact on organizations overall performance and core
values, lean concept appears to be word wide effective administration tool. Companies in all over
the globe would apply this concept in their businesses practices or manufacturing procedures
from production to marketing and development of software. It depends on three simple ideas
such as deliver value from client’s perspective, remove waste or unessential things and
continuous improvement. In context of business, this concept encourages and maximizes shared
leadership and accountability, lean management adopted widely across different sector to gain
many benefits such as increase profitability.
Types of lean management techniques-
According to Nawanir and et.al., (2018) lean management approach is consisting with
varied types of techniques or it can be said methods that are very beneficial for manufacturers
operating in several industries. This concept is one of the great tools that eliminate unnecessary
things in any procedures by implementing effective techniques. Kaizen, 5S and Kanban is
considered as lean management approaches that are quite effective and helpful for companies.
On the other hand Al-Balushi and Al-Mandhari, (2018) highlighted that all the lean
management techniques are important and beneficial for producers, but Just in time, Six sigma
and Jidoka are the best instead of above one because it provide quick results in systematic

manner. All these approaches work to determine the cause of issues and then develop urgency to
find permanent & suitable solutions.
Impact of lean management techniques on operations management of tiling consultant or
contractors-
Lee and Snyder, (2017) discussed that lean management is more like a guide for
developing s stable company that includes constantly and aid to determine actual issues and
remove them within operations or productions management. It can be said that lean management
impact on operations management of tiling companies in effective manner, it effects positively
and improve the production procedures much better than before. Continuous improvement is a
main part of lean management assuring that every worker is included in procedure of improving.
It directly impact on manufacturing activities in positive manner which in return increase profit
margin and sales of products.
Oliveros, Granja and Dionisio, (2018) contraction that lean by implementing Kaizen
method companies improve their work process in different of ways. It is a common Japanese
word for making or improving products or services better than before. This approach put positive
impact on business operations management as it improves the moral of staff and recommend for
betterment.
Challenges faced by companies when they implement lean management techniques-
Siasos and et.al., (2017) stated that when management implements lean approaches they
can enhance performance as well as productivity level rather than before. But while
implementing techniques organizations had face different challenges due to certain reasons.
Leadership problem create biggest challenge in front of administration to use Kaizen and other
methods at workplace. Ineffective leadership style affects negatively upon progress and success
of business as it restrict people to work with lean management methods and do not allow them to
follow its principles in effective manner. In simple words, without appropriate leaders and their
styles workers are unable to determine the issues and improve performance. They always need
guidance and directions to move towards long term success which is possible only when leader
guide people in ethical manner.

JUSTIFICATION AND CONTEXTUALIZATION
Importance of this research and important to find what researcher are trying to find
In respect of this research, the reason behind investigation is to investigate the impact of
lean management methods on production and other functions of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited.
Conducting research based on above topic is really very essential because it helps to understand
lean management concept and its benefits for companies such as tiling manufactures. With this
research it is quite easy to examine the techniques comprise with lean management used by
many companies to improve and enhance their business practices rather than before after
implementing lean management methods. The main aim of this investigation is to assess lean
management techniques which directly impact on production process and help to eliminate
ineffective things that do not require storing for longer within organization (Garza-Reyes and
et.al., 2018). While conducting this research researcher is able to determine varied lean
management techniques such as Kaizen, Just in time, 5S, Poka Yoke, Six sigma and KANBAN.
JPR tiling consultants limited supply stone, porcelain and ceramic tiling within luxury and
commercial residential sector, they need to provide the better quality work to consumers
according to their needs and expectations. It is possible when management use and apply
effective and most suitable technique that save time and reduce waste things which in return
enhance production activities as well as functions better than organization competitors.
In context of this research, researcher tries to investigate and evaluate how lean
management approaches supports and help continuous improvement of operations management
in effective manner. Investigator is interested to know fact; they seek to find out the best
technique appropriate for chosen company (Pearce and Pons, 2019). Researcher wants to
evaluate benefits and impact of lean management techniques on production and other operation
management which is quite beneficial for growth and success of business. With the help of this
investigation researcher analyze how organization improves their operations and manage their
business practices by implementing lean management techniques. All the method is simply
production strategy that strives to improve and enhance a business return on investment by
reducing & eliminating in procedure inventory and related carrying costs.

MENTHODOLOGY
Research types
It is one of the most effective methods which can be utilize by researcher in this study to
carry on whole investigation and is of two kinds that is quantitative and qualitative research. For
the current research project, investigator has made use of qualitative research type. It is mainly
because of reason that investigator want to obtain theoretical knowledge of benefits of lean
management techniques on JPR Tiling Consultants Limited business operations.
Research approach
This is another way researcher can use while conducting research in order to gather data
regarding research topic that help to analyze how lean management techniques help continuous
improvement of production and other business function management. It defines as assumption on
which entire investigation is based and is of two kinds deductive and inductive. In context of this
study research can be used inductive research approach because it is not based on developing
hypothesis more it is rely on formulation of objectives and aims. The benefit of this method is
flexible as investigator does not have to follow any pre-identified data.
Research philosophy/Paradigm
Along with above research methods, it is also considered as one of the most important
one. Research philosophy defined as values & thinking’s that linked with continuation of
investigation. It is distinguished into two categories that are positivism and interpretivism. In
context of this research, research can be used interpretivism because of purpose that this
philosophy is the best appropriate with qualitative investigation and will outcome in more
relevant information belong to above topic. It helps to gather correct data that achieve set aims
and objectives of this study.
Research design
It is defined as framework which is being utilized by researcher in this study to conduct
investigation in effective and efficient manner. Research design method is distinguished into two
categories descriptive and exploratory. In order to complete current research researcher can made
utilize of descriptive research design as it help them in comprehend impact of Lean techniques
on management of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited operations and how does it work for business.

They chose this method because it also aid to observe phenomenon in a fully natural &
unchanged natural environment.
Data collection
This method play really very important role in this research as it help researcher to gather
data related to aim and objectives of study. It can be done with either secondary or primary
source of data. In context of this study investigator has utilize a combination of secondary &
primary sources of information. This method is chosen because of fact that both sources caters
for a good set of info and data which includes reliable and valid way of data related to above
chosen topic.
Data analysis
It is another essential step in overall population as this outcome in conclusion of this
research. After collection data from varied sources researcher analyze gather info in order to
drawn findings and conclusion at the end of this study which help readers to known at what
extent lean management techniques aid to continuous improvement of operations management
(Kumar, Dhingra and Singh, 2018). Hence, for this research investigator use thematic analysis as
it includes use of charts, bar graphs and tables to present data being gathered.
Sampling
It defined as procedure used by researcher to statistical analysis in which a encoded
number of observation are taken from a wide population. Sampling method can be distinguished
into two different types of categories non-probability and probability. For current research
proposal sample of 30 workers of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited was being selected with aid of
random sampling approach under Probability sampling. Researcher could not consider any
alternative they think it is the best among list of many.
Access and ethics
Ethical consideration
While gathering data via data collection methods researcher will find out the information
related to research topic from valid sources. There are many ways to obtain data, but the most
common methods are group focus, taking with people, surveys. Investigator of this study must

assure that gathered info or data will be stored at right place so that is cannot be misused by
someone else.
Accessibility-
It is depend on problems which researcher of this study faces by working on this study.
They face problem of access denied in several websites and this somehow impact on findings or
further activities
Limitations
Qualitative research strategy can be used in this research by researcher as it helps to
understand other opinions as well in context of current research topic. There are some limitations
mentioned in context of above research strategy. As it is a time consuming procedure, it is labor
intensive method and complex to examine causality. Because this strategy is opening ended,
participants have more control over information of data gathered. So research with qualitative
research strategy is not able to evaluate outcomes objectively against content stated by
respondents. On the other hand, it can capture modified attitudes within focus groups such as
consumers of services or goods offered by JPR Tiling Consultants Limited.
CONCLUSION
From above analysis it has been concluded that lean management techniques are quite
beneficial in context of JPR Tiling Consultants Limited. By implementing and following the
stages of lean methods within business activities company gain many benefits as it improve
operations effectiveness, help to meet the set aim and objectives of organization and also aid
continuous betterment of production process. After conducting above research it has been
summarized that all lean management technique work effectively as they help to improve
products quality, enhance consumer satisfaction, staff morale, eliminates defect and smoother all
the operations in ethical manner.

REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Al-Balushi, M.M. and Al-Mandhari, Z., 2018. Implementing lean management techniques at a
radiation oncology department. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 18(3).
p.e362.
Biazzo, S., Panizzolo, R. and de Crescenzo, A.M., 2016. Lean management and product
innovation: a critical review. In Understanding the Lean Enterprise (pp. 237-260).
Springer, Cham.
Garza-Reyes and et.al., 2018. The effect of lean methods and tools on the environmental
performance of manufacturing organisations. International Journal of Production
Economics. 200. pp.170-180.
Kornegay, A.L., 2020. Manufacturing Production Companies Can Gain Strategic Global
Advantage Using Lean Six Sigma. In Sustainable Business: Concepts, Methodologies,
Tools, and Applications (pp. 1538-1557). IGI Global.
Kumar, S., Dhingra, A.K. and Singh, B., 2018. Process improvement through Lean-Kaizen using
value stream map: a case study in India. The International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology. 96(5-8). pp.2687-2698.
Lee, Q. and Snyder, B., 2017. The strategos guide to value stream & process mapping. Enna
Products Corporation.
Nawanir, G and et.al., 2018. Developing and validating lean manufacturing constructs: an SEM
approach. Benchmarking: An International Journal.
Oliveros, B.A., Granja, A.D. and Dionisio, S.R., 2018. An initial evaluation of a method for
adopting kaizen events in the construction sector. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción.
33(2). pp.173-182.
Parkhi, S.S., 2019. Lean management practices in corporate sector: a literature
review. Benchmarking: An International Journal.
Pearce, A. and Pons, D., 2019. Advancing lean management: The missing quantitative
approach. Operations Research Perspectives. 6. p.100114.
Sanders, A and et.al., 2017, September. Industry 4.0 and lean management–synergy or
contradiction?. In IFIP International Conference on Advances in Production
Management Systems (pp. 341-349). Springer, Cham.
Siasos, G.I and et.al., 2017. The benefits of Lean through an analysis and improvement of an
existing production line. Mater. Sci. Eng. Adv. Res. 2(1). pp.15-24.
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