Lean Project Management: Minimizing Waste and Maximizing Efficiency

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RESEARCH REPORT
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Contents
Introduction to Project management................................................................................................3
The mission statement of the project...............................................................................................3
Business objectives..........................................................................................................................3
Problem statement...........................................................................................................................3
Lean model life cycle.......................................................................................................................4
Project network techniques..............................................................................................................6
Project crash determination:............................................................................................................8
Resource scheduling........................................................................................................................8
Project management techniques......................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction to Project management
The present project is going to deal with the lean model. The main purpose of the lean model is
to develop a manner of working within an enterprise so that customers get satisfied. This is done
via the elimination of waste materials and improving the margin. The life cycle of the lean model
included in this project is going to highlight. This section will include project selection,
initiation, work breakdown structure, activity planning, and project networks. In addition to this,
various project management techniques will also be covered in this report. This will describe
aspects related to costs, quality control, and risk analysis. Apart from this, some contemporary
issues will also be described that comprises of monitoring, closure and control management.
The mission statement of the project
The main purpose of creating this project is to minimize the generation of waste matters that are
being produced at the company by applying the technique of the lean model. Lean model is
mainly used to manage the waste generated at the corporation or reducing the overall quantity of
the waste from the venture in an effective manner (Shamah, 2013). This is being carried on for
creating a feeling of satisfaction in the end users or customers.
Business objectives
There are some business objectives of this project which are mentioned below:
 To gain the attention of customers
 To satisfy the customers and gain profitability in return
 To minimize the generation of waste materials at the organisation.
Problem statement
In this current modern world, the issue related to the creation of waste materials is increasing
day by which is affecting the overall production of the venture. Thus, in order to remove this
issue, the company wants to implement a technique known as the lean model which can
effectively decrease the overall quantity of waste (Hasle, et. al., 2012).
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Lean model life cycle
According to the words of (Gestor de proyectos, 2019), there are certain steps that are used to
create an ideal lean manufacturing system:
 Designing a simple manufacturing system
 Identifying that there is always room for improvement
 Regularly improve the lean manufacturing system design
These steps are explained below in proper way:
Design a simple manufacturing system:
Demand-based flow manufacturing is considered one of the fundamental principles of lean
manufacturing. In order to meet and fulfill the need of customers’ order, inventory is only pull
through each production center. There are some benefits to this aim:
 Less inventory
 Enhanced capital equipment utilization
 Upgraded productivity
 Decreased cycle time
Continuous improvement:
A continuous improvement mindset is required in order to reach the goal of a firm. The
terminology “continuous improvement” shows the improvement in the goods and services time
by time along with the ambition of reducing the waste for upgrading the functionality of the
workplace and performance of the products. Thus, it can be said that the value of adding
activities are normally only those things that the users are willing to pay for everything except
the waste. Thus, it should be eliminated and reduced as soon as possible.
Measure:
OEE (Overall equipment effectiveness) is a set of performance metrics that are used in the
environment of the lean model. In addition to this, some other metrics like cost analysis, PMPTS,
time study and methods time measurement that is utilised for evaluating the wastes and
effectualness of IT in the operational processes.
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Project network techniques
Wahab, Mukhtar, and Sulaiman (2013) stated that network technique is a method of planning,
scheduling and controlling the development or progress of the project. This is a very important
technique that is using all kind of projects that are complicated in nature. Since the project is a
group or set of activities that are executed in a fixed order. There are certain activities that are
used in completing this project. The important one listed below:
Activities Description
a. Initiating processes In this phase, the processes are initiated so that
the rest of the work can be started and
completed in an effective manner.
b. Project selection After that project is selected that is the lean
model. This is done for minimizing the waste
materials in the company.
c. Framing mission statement Afterward, the mission statement is created so
that the main motto of developing this project
can be highlighted effectively.
d. Creating a problem statement In the next step, the creation of the problem
statement is done so that issues occurring at the
form can be identified and solution of that
issue can be determined.
e. Developing life cycle of lean model In this phase, the life cycle of the model is
developed so that the aim of this project can be
attained in a proper manner.
f. Resource planning and control The planning of resource should be done in
this phase and controlling is also performed
here.
g. Team coordination All the ideas and concepts are shared amongst
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the team members so that their coordination
can be achieved.
h. Risk management At the last stage, risk related to the project
management can be determined in order to
remove the same on a priority basis.
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a b c d e
f g
h

Project crash determination:
As per the thought of Fullerton, Kennedy, and Widener (2014), project crashing can be simply
defined as a method that is used for shortening the duration of the project by reducing the overall
timing of specific activities to less the usual time. Crashing is being attained by devoting more
resources. Thus, it can be said that overall cost affiliated with the project would get increased.
The main objectives of project crashing are the following:
 To decrease the duration of the project
 Reducing the cost of crashing
In this project, crashing can be done by creating some rigid deadlines. This means all the
activities have to the performed at specific time intervals. In addition to this, workers should be
performed under the guidance of experienced leaders so that no issues would occur and this time
will not get consumed in correcting any wrong activity.
Resource scheduling
According to the views of Bhamu and Singh Sangwan (2014), resource scheduling simply refers
to the set of actions and methods that are used by companies in assigning the resources to the
workers as per the tasks and other activities included in the project. This is known as the key step
that is used in project management. Availability of resources and work capacity are the primary
factors that usually determine the deadline of the project. Some of the essential resources that are
needed in this lean management project are the following:
 Human resources: These are employees or workforces who are responsible for carrying
out the work of the project that is minimising the waste materials from the company.
 Financial resources: This is nothing but the revenue that is used in purchasing specific
commodities and executing any plan associated with the project management.
 Raw materials: Some important raw materials should be accumulated so that work
related to the project management can be started in an effective manner.
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Project management techniques
This technique includes the determination of certain aspects related to project management that
is costing, quality control and risk analysis. These aspects are discussed below in detail:
 Cost: The project is related to the lean model; thereby it is a complicated project which would
need a huge amount of money for the investment. Around $50,000 would be consumed for
implementing the project of the lean model. If such an amount is not present, then the firm can
take help of the bank and another institute. In fact, the help of other relatives, friends and family
members can be taken so that the lean model can be implemented in the project (Visual-
planning.com., 2019). Here, the main target is to reduce the generation of waste materials so that
the quality of products can be increased. This will also help in gaining great profitability since
the production level would be improved after implementing the lean model at a venture.
 Quality control: This is another aspect that is very necessary for the successful
implementation of the project. If quality would not be maintained properly, then several risks
will appear in the manufactured goods and services in the future after launching the product in
the market. This will create demotivation in the customers as they get disappointed by using the
products or services of the corporation. They will as a bad result after that would not prefer the
venture for purchasing any commodity in upcoming days. Thus, it is very important to maintain
a good quality of the products and services so that customers get satisfied and will choose the
goods of the company for meeting their basic needs.
 Risk analysis: Every task or activity comprises of some risks that need to identified and
removed as soon as possible since this may create conflicts in the future. Since the company is
going to execute a project of lean management, this also comprised of certain risks. These risks
should be determined on a priority basis and after that solutions should be created for removing
such risks in an effective manner. This will increase the sustainability of the project.
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Project issues
Resource management issues
In accordance Armstrong & Taylor (2014), the lean project management is a very important
technique which is usually used by the company so that the process if manufacturing and
working can be able to get one in an effective and appropriate needed manner. There is a great
scope of growth for the companies if it is effectively and appropriately using the lean model. It is
very important that the organisation must use the best policies as well as the plans so that the
effectiveness in the working can be obtained. There are several situations where the needs and
requirements of the company in terms of resources management will not be able to get obtain.
There are several factors which are very important as the resources in the company. It is
important that the resources in an organisation needed to be managed in a well-planned manner.
As asserted by Saquib, et. al. (2012), the company faces many issues regarding the resources
arrangement and organising. There are different resources, like, HR, communication,
procurement and so on. As to manage and handle the lean project process, it is very necessary
that the mentioned resources are needed to be managed in an effective and appropriate manner. It
is essential that the resources which are required for lean management are needed to arrange in
an effective manner.
The issue regarding human resources many times affect the process of the project. It is very
important in the project to wisely use all the resources, human resource plays the vital and most
important role in the operations and activities of the firm. The human resources help the
company to manage and attain the long term sustainability as well as with the help of this
resources the operations will also get done in a smooth manner (Briscoe, et. al., 2012). The
recruiting and staffing of the employees is not an easy task, the best and most suitable candidate
for the chosen project is not easy to attain. The difficulty in managing and hiring the best quality
human resources is one of the biggest challenges which is been faced by the company. The
attainment of human resources is very difficult as this will be creating a problem in the working
of the business as well.
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According to Budhwar & Debrah (2013), communication is also very important as with the help
of this the operations, as well as activities of the company, will be able to get done in the best
and effective possible manner. While implementing the lean project plan in the business, it is
highly needed that the people involved in the activities know all the possible outcomes of the
project. The ultimate objective to implement the project is needed to be conveyed in the best and
effective possible manner to all the stakeholders of the business.
The problem is very high in managing the communication resources as the project that is getting
executed is not getting done at a small scale. The concern of each and every activity needed to be
done by the management then only the success could be obtained. The major issue that gets arise
is the improperly informed goals of the project, poor sharing of the information, and lack in
making the other party understand what actually has to be done and obtained (Vaiman &
Collings, 2013). This is very important for the project that the communication has to be done
effectively but due to these factors, the problems and getting arise in an adverse manner.
The procurement process is highly required in the loam management project n the company.
This will be making the project to get performed in an effective manner and the objective will
also be able to get meet in an effective way. The issues regarding this need to be managed when
it get arise, it is essential that the management first need to identify that the negative impact that
took arise during the process of the work. It is understood that the time and delay issues are one
of the common problems that get arise. The company has to risk mitigation is also the issue
which is been faced by the company, therefore it is affecting the process in an effective and in
the appropriate needed manner.
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Contemporary project management
As opined by Young & Conboy (2013), the resource management is as discussed is the issue but
besides that, there are many more issues and problems which the project management in the lean
project can affect the activities and operations. It is been understood that there are issues
considered by the management which is a common issue which is needed to be managed and
handled. The contemporary issue that is been understood is that the monitoring of the activities is
very problematic for the management. The monitoring is highly required in the project as with
the help of this the management and operations of the activities planned will be able to get done
in an appropriate manner.
In accordance Rigby & Bird (2013), the operations and activities which are been get done by the
organisation for the process of the lean project is very important. For operating well and in an
effective manner it is highly needed that monitoring activities are needed to get done in an
effective manner. Nowadays the project management is facing the monitoring issues because
there is no proper and effective process which is utilised by the management. The management
much time due to lack of resources and improper tools and technique the effective monitoring is
not get performed. This is ultimately affecting the project’s plans as well as the company is
facing the issue such as the improper functioning and processing of the firm. The functions of the
business are especially to reduce the wastage getting done in the company is very necessary but
at the same time, the management due to lack in several factors are not able to operate in an
effective needed way. The company need proper monitoring tools as well as a plan which is poor
which lead to ineffective functioning of the business.
The resources and the contemporary issues are related to each other. If there is a lack in any of
the resources the issues in the project will be increasing and the contemporary factors will also
be getting higher the negative influence on its operations and functioning. The controlling of
actions done is also highly needed; the difference between the actual plans and executed
activities is able to get obtained in the appropriate required manner (Eskerod & Huemann, 2013).
The cost is one of the major issues that are getting arisen during the process of the controlling
activities which is needed to be managed. The financial factors will influence the operations and
activities in the best and effective possible manner.
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The controlling will be done only when the operation and activities will be performed in the
systematic order; there is a great influence where the operations will get not performed in the
appropriate and required manner. the controlling problem get arise because there is improper
management process followed in the company along with this the effectiveness in the input is
also not as appropriate which will lead to imply an appropriate controlling step. There are several
aspects which are needed to be considered when doing a controlling act but because of the lack
in resources and other factors, the operations will not be able to get done in the best and
systematic manner.
The problem that gets arise is the output will be negative of unfavourable as there is not proper
controlling has got done. The issue of poor performance and un-imaginable results will affect the
business value and worth in the competitive market which will be affecting the business and will
challenge the business operations to get survive in the competitive world (Eskerod & Huemann,
2013).
The management in the closing of the project will also come up with different problems and
issues. The company will not be able to get understand the ways and process the closure has to
be executed. The time delays will affect the project closure, along with this the financial and
other resources which are needed in the project if not used in the best effective manner the
operations and activities needed in the closure of the business will get the negative influence.
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