University of Iowa Lean
The University of Iowa first implemented the Lean program in 2006 when we were challenged to do more with less, due to changes in state appropriations and high competition for research dollars. Because the University is committed to excellence, Organizational Effectiveness started its own Lean practices to help become more efficient, provide higher quality customer service, decrease costs, and improve productivity and results. The implementation of Lean at The University of Iowa benefits not only the University, but also industry and students as well.
What is Lean?
Lean is about the culture of an organization and a way of thinking. It’s a time-tested proven approach to improving processes within an organization by maximizing value while reducing waste. (For the definitions and important discussion of value and the eight forms of waste, go to Waste Identification). It also allows an organization to do more with their existing resources. Lean encourages individuals to challenge preconceptions about the way they do what they do.
Lean originated through Toyota and their manufacturing operations and has since widely expanded to areas such as healthcare, the service industry, and higher education. The University of Iowa has effectively implemented Lean in areas ranging from the University EOD Recruitment Process to the University Billing Office.
How Does Lean Work?
Lean is a very structured review of a business process and the individual steps that make up that process. The review identifies three components related to value or waste, one of which can be attached to every step in the process. The components are defined as:
- Those that add value (defined from a client’s perspective),
- those that don’t add value but are necessary due to laws, regulations or other outside influence, and
- those that don’t add any value at all and are pure waste. Those steps that are pure waste are targeted for removal.
Eliminating waste is the greatest potential source of improvement. Once waste has been identified and removed, processes are then redesigned to allow the service and/or information to flow through the new process without interruption.
What are the Benefits?
Lean can be expected to:
- decrease the complexity of processes.
- provide an opportunity for those who do the work to develop ideas for improvement and efficiency.
- improve the quality and consistency of results.
- allocate more staff time to “mission critical” work.
- improve staff morale.
- increase process transparency which allows errors or problems to be identified more quickly.
- gain a shared appreciation for the integral part each person plays in the process being reviewed.
- create an opportunity for dialogue between all units involved in the process.
For Further Information/Contact Us
Richard See
Lean Program Consultant
richard-see@uiowa.edu
319-384-0766