It’s argued that more than 90% of Lean projects will fail. Although correctly initiated Lean brings immediate improvements, the benefits of the projects are one-off. We know about one-time improvements that in the long run the original state begins to restore – it’s human. We also know that very soon better performance is needed again. How to maintain the competitive edge through continuous improvement?

Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker Knows the Pillars of the Toyota Lean Culture Thoroughly

Jeffrey K. Liker is one of the world's leading researchers in the Toyota Way, and he knows how different companies can benefit from what we know about Toyota when managing and developing superior operations and culture.

Dr. Liker is professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is also a professional speaker and consultant on Lean. His areas of expertise include Operational Excellence, Lean thinking, organizational change and performance.

How to choose the right people? How to motivate people to commit themselves to the company’s objectives? How to eliminate the 8th waste of un-utilized people? How to succeed better? That’s what we ask daily, when dreaming about a Lean organization.

Jeffrey K. Liker Visits Aalto PRO on 27.4.2012

Jeffrey K. Liker visit Aalto University in April. In pursuance of his visit, Aalto PRO is organizing an open Lean Culture seminar. Welcome.

Text: Jani Alanko

A new incidence angle needed for Quality Management. Quality Management will require a broader know-how in the future. The role of client will be emphasized. Nokia’s Senior Program Manager Timo Alho speaks about managing expectations, a topic that is handled also in Aalto PRO’s training programme of strategic quality management, MQ Pro.

We have to be increasingly aware of the clients’ expectations in various products and services, and also of what the product will be used for.

– The client normally knows in advance exactly what kind of a product he is going to buy, as most products have already been ranked in the social media. The topics rising in those discussions mostly relate to the defects and disadvantages of a product or a service. Having heard or read the various comments, it is easy for the client to make up his mind. The client’s main concern often is where to purchase the product with least effort and expenditure, Timo Alho says.

MQ Pro, the continuing education programme in strategic quality management had it’s kick off in February 2012. It responds to the changing needs in the field.

– We have to be aware of the client’s needs, and how to transform them into actions, says Päivi Suutari, Vice President (Corrugated Board), StoraEnso. The products are close to the client.

– Out of StoraEnso’s product lines, corrugated board is the one closest to the client. And we make those packages to meet the individual needs of this particular client. Many buy the products based on price but an equally important factor is quality. Quality consists of the product’s or service’s quality as well as the quality of the aggregate supply, says Päivi Suutari.

Timo Alho, too, emphasizes that a product’s whole delivery chain should be taken into account.

– Our knowledge has to extend to solving the problems of our suppliers. If we don’t have an understanding of this, we cannot help our supply chain either.

The chain has become longer also at the customer interface.

– We have to keep the clients satisfied, i.e. the operators and their clients. We must also understand the needs of both parties. This is part of managing expectations.

Clients want to participate

Minna Takala, Lic. Sc. (Tech.) and researcher of quality, sees that many companies are now on the threshold of paradigm change. The ground rules and competition situations of business are changing.

– It is of vital importance how we focus on quality and what quality means to the end customer, Minna Takala says.

The change can be seen also in the renewed MQ Pro -training, Minna Takala having been one of those planning the new programme.

– Emphasis is being shifted to operational quality and to improved understanding of the customer interface.

Richness comes from co-operation of different fields

Both Timo Alho and Päivi Suutari have participated in the MQ training, preceding the present MQ Pro programme. Alho in the first programme in 1993-94, and Suutari in the fifth in 1997-98.

– The MQ didn’t familiarize us with the specifics of the tools, but it does give you an understanding of what can be achieved with the different methods, and which one to use in any given situation, Timo Alho says.

– At the end of the training we founded the 'MQ Club' that has been active for 17 years now, and has grown into a sizeable community over the years. The members of the club can help and spar one another.

Päivi Suutari states that without the quality management training in question, she would probably not have been chosen for the post of Director of Quality at Stora Enso Group in 2002. During the training she also got herself a network that is still active.

The MQ Pro – Professional Master of Quality training programme started on 8 February 2012. It is aimed at future directors and those responsible for quality and development in the industry, in service enterprises and the public sector.

Author: Seppo Metso
Translation: Eppi Aro

The event is in English, and the admission is free.

More detailed programme»

Climate Fair is part of the Nordic Climate Festival @Aalto, a 4-day event on finding and promoting the best available Nordic initiatives towards sustainable communities. The festival is part of the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2011.

The festival also offers other interesting, open events:

• Open seminar and panel discussion on shortcuts to sustainable Nordic communities will take place in Dipoli, Otaniemi on Wednesday 31st of August at 9-12. Joining in for the panel discussion: Professor Peter Lund, Aalto University; Director Jukka Noponen, Sitra; Energy Director Jari Suominen, St1; Researcher Aija Staffans, Aalto University; CEO Jaakko Särelä, ZenRobotics; Research Professor Antti Hautamäki, University of Jyväskylä and General Manager Jón Björn Skúlason, Icelandic New Energy. The panel is hosted by journalist Kari Rissa.

• The festival has also 90 Nordic Students that work with the tricky topics of climate change. Come and see the results of the workshop tracks in the closing seminar of festival Friday 2nd of September at 9-12 in Dipoli, Otaniemi.

You can also follow our live webcasts of the events at www.climatefestival2011.fi

In the area of sourcing, there is a huge potential for continuous improvement in most organizations. However, this requires the organization to realize and accept the importance of sourcing – to define its sourcing strategy and the most appropriate implementation.

Aalto PRO's fully English-language international sourcing management training programme is focused on well-known industry best practices and newest ideas. The goal is to help participants develop better profitability, improved performance and build new, supplier relationships based culture in their organizations.

Author: Tupuna Tapanainen, Aalto PRO

Diploma in Global Sourcing – Towards Global Supply Management»