Lean Manufacturing Simulation

What is Lean Manufacturing?

Lean Manufacturing is a group of concepts that originally came from study of the Toyota Production System.  The concepts have been documented and researched by James Womack and Daniel Jones and published in their two books, The Machine that Changed the World and Lean Thinking.  “Lean” manufacturing embraces concepts such as just in time inventories, “pull” vs. “push” manufacturing, value stream, and flow.  These methods are fast becoming requirements of manufacturers to be able to continue to be competitive and satisfy more demanding customers.  Most of the concepts are common sense; the reason they aren’t common practice is the tendency to separate functions and the people working in different functions.  Most people don’t understand the “big” picture and how the “little” picture contributes to it.  Lean Manufacturing brings all of these concepts together under one umbrella.

Why would I want to simulate Lean Manufacturing? 

• You are frustrated with stagnant profitability and financial success - Competition continues to be more challenging and customers more demanding for higher quality and lower prices.
• Your company is performing well but you know you could move to a new level of market share, quality and customer satisfaction, or other measures, if you only knew how.  Lean Manufacturing addresses all of these objectives because it instills the practice of continuously looking for better ways to reduce waste and scrap while improving flow.
• You experience waste of the creativity and potential of the people of your organization.  Lean Manufacturing helps bring people together in sharing ideas and building on each other’s ideas.
• You haven’t been able to improve job satisfaction.  Lean Manufacturing gets employees meaningfully involved, something studies have shown employees want.
• Recruiting and retention of quality employees is a constant battle.  Lean Manufacturing is a step toward being “employer of choice” and doing more with less.

There are lots of Lean simulations.  Why would I want to use this one?

The Lean Sim Machine™ was created by one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America, Donnelly Corporation in Holland, MI.  Donnelly created the simulation out of frustration experienced when they brought in Lean “experts” that weren’t able to help them.  They then created their own system that worked wonderfully.  They gave the rights to the product to Scanlon Leadership Network, who created a comprehensive course to go with it.  It has since been used with great success by many top manufacturers including National Mfg., Spring Engineering, and General Motors.

What is included?

• 3 Finely Crafted Oak Machines
• Comprehensive Leader Guide, Overheads, Handouts 
• 30 Page Reproducible Participant Manual
•  Excel™ Spreadsheet to Perform Financial Calculations
• Pallets, Finished Good Racks, Nuts, Bolts, Linkages
• Heavy Duty Locking Storage Box

How can I bring the simulation to my company?

• Five Day Rental
• Purchase the simulation
• Training delivered by The Possibilities Company

Back to Service Listings

The Possibilities Company    St. Paul, Minnesota    info@theposs.com