doi: 10.3926 j iem .2009.v2n1.p128- 152 © © JI EM, 2009 – 2 1 : 128- 152 - I SSN: 2013- 0953
The roles of com m unication process for an effect ive lean m anufacturing im plem entat ion 129
P. Puvanasvar an; H. Megat ; T. S. Hong; M. M. Razali
United Kingdom organizations have accom plished lean m anufact uring im plem entation successfully. A num ber of variables m ay have im pacts on lean
im plem entation, and m anagem ent support plays an im portant role in a lean m anufacturing im plem entation Worley et al., 2006 . However, since lean
im plem entation involves em ployees at all levels, t here is a need for a good com m unication process to enable a sm ooth flow of the process. One of the m ain
challenges of com m unication is t o ensure that the changes are being readily accepted and im plem ented by everyone at all levels.
Karlsson et al. 1996 stated that lean should be seen as a direction and the focus lies on the change in the determ inants. The determ inants that are able to reflect
changes in an effort to becom e lean had been identified by Karlsson et al. 1997 . I t is essent ial t o note t hat lean product ions viewed a com plex organizat ional
principle that requires m aj or changes in a com pany Mathaisel et al., 2000 . Hence, t here is a posit ive relat ionship between invest m ent s in t he supporting
m anufacturing infrastructure and actual changes towards lean m anufacturing Soriano- Meier et al., 2002 .
1.1 Problem Statement
The com pany claim s to have im plem ented lean m anufact uring for about two years. The lean m anufacturing practices that had been carried out are Continuous
I m provem ent , 5’s and General Visual Managem ent , Cellular Manufact uring, Value St ream Mapping, Tot al Product ive Maint enance and Pull Product ion. Although
m anagem ent declared huge support for these practices, it has been noted that the com m unicative aspect is not em phasized in the im plem entation of leanness.
The lean m anufacturing is first im plem ented in the Kitting depart m ent as the Kit t ing Area is t he init ial point for m ost production process. The com pany is keen to
find out on t he suit abilit y of t he lean m anufact uring pract ice in t his depart m ent before it is proliferat ed int o ot her departm ents; and also to im prove on the
com m unication process am ong the em ployees in the im plem entation of leanness of the com pany.
doi: 10.3926 j iem .2009.v2n1.p128- 152 © © JI EM, 2009 – 2 1 : 128- 152 - I SSN: 2013- 0953
The roles of com m unication process for an effect ive lean m anufacturing im plem entat ion 130
P. Puvanasvar an; H. Megat ; T. S. Hong; M. M. Razali
1.2 Objective
The overall obj ective of this st udy is to evaluate the degree of leanness and com m unicative process em ployed in the im plem entation of leanness. The specific
obj ectives of this study are: To determ ine the degree of adoption of lean production principles in the
organization. To determ ine the level of com m unication process that supports
m anufacturing infrastructure to becom e lean.
1.3 Significant of the study
The result s of t his st udy will show t he degree of leanness im plem ent ed in t he com pany and the roles played by com m unication process in lean im plem entation.
This will help t he com pany t o ident ify t he problem s in t he im plem ent at ion of an effective lean m anufact uring system . I t can provide answers to questions such as:
“ How com m unication process can support leanness?” , “ Where should we pay m ore attention to im prove better com m unication of leanness im plem entation?” and
“ What should be done for a better com m unication in the im plem entation of lean process?” Consequent ly, t he com pany is able t o im prove and sustain t heir lean
m anufacturing perform ance through a system atic com m unicative approach. Thus, it will increase and m aint ain com pany’s com pet it iveness in the indust ry. Besides
that, a successful lean im plem entation by the com pany, supported by a system atic com m unicative approach will prom ot e t he lean m anufact uring t o ot her indust ries in
Malaysia.
1.4 Scope of the study
