In an effort to boost productivity and quality of deliverables, Aker Solutions India has adopted a focused team approach, wherein a set objective is achieved within a short, stipulated span of time called a ‘sprint’.
Here is a detailed insight into the company’s operational efficiency methodologies, the rudiments of problem identification, and the process of bringing about the desired improvements.
The concept of ‘lean,’ which focusses on the identification and elimination of waste, was originally developed and implemented by the manufacturing industry. However, now a number of other industries have started to apply this business improvement methodology to improve their process and product deliveries.
Lean emphasizes the importance of analyzing delivery methods from a customer’s perspective—every step of every process should add value; if it does not improve the value stream, then it is a waste and needs to be eliminated. Following this approach, instead of focusing on waste at isolated points, creates processes that need fewer resources to provide services at lower costs and with higher quality. This continuous incremental improvement leads to transformation into a lean organization. Such an organization focuses not just on tools, methods, and behavior, but also on attitudes and values.
Any organization can be made lean as long as the target remains in focus.
Operational excellence is at the core of our strategy as we seek to shape a sustainable future for our industry, and we execute our business within the realms of a deep-rooted value system that guides not just operations, but our behavior too. In our endeavor to create and deliver value for our customers and our business, we focus on improving not only resources but also flow efficiencies. Last year, we combined all improvement initiatives in a global program, #thejourney, targeting at least 30% increased cost efficiency in all parts of our business by the end of 2017.
Lean principles are a cornerstone of this program–the way we operate and continuously improve our business. As part of this, employees across the globe are being given basic training in ‘lean’, and are encouraged to apply this methodology to our daily operations. Most employees will undergo basic ‘lean’ training by the end of 2017.
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Denne historien er fra July-August 2016-utgaven av The Smart Manager.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Building A Quality Culture
A strong company culture defined by its values, beliefs, and behaviors, has a profound impact on its products and services. More so in today’s VUCA world, where to stay relevant and maintain a competitive edge, it is critical for organizations to build a culture that focuses on quality. Suresh Lulla, author of Quality Fables, elucidates through significant examples how creating a culture of quality is imperative to driving success and productivity.
Customers For Life
The history of General Motors in India can be traced back to the 1920s, when it became the first automotive company to set up an assembly plant in the country. The relationship since then has not been as fruitful as GM would have hoped. GM’s flagship brand, Chevrolet, was introduced in India to build upon the success of the popular Opel marque. However, success has been fleeting at best—an issue that GM India is determined to rectify. It aims to do so by adopting a two-pronged approach: using customer feedback to influence product development, and delivering a superior sales-to-service experience.
The Digital Shift
… technology will radically disrupt HR in the near future. Indeed, it is already changing the way HR works and the role it plays and opening the door to a new type of “digital HR” function.1 The rise of digital and social media is changing the dynamics of HR and creating new ways of hiring, engaging, and retaining employees.
The Story Of Telling
“The best brands are built on great stories,”* this remark by Ian Rowden best captures the strategy of diligent brand building. Much more than attractive logos or the products themselves, what builds a brand is how successfully a story is woven around it. Brand marketers have to be good storytellers indeed.
Complexity Is Simpler Than You Think
Kay Kendall and Glenn Bodinson, authors of Leading the Malcolm Baldrige Way, shatter myths about excellence models such as Baldrige and EFQM.
Proponents of Isolation Never Become Victors
Multilateralism in the political and economic space has always led to frameworks that favor the mighty. WTO was no exception. With agriculture kept out of its purview, it could never become a truly fair and free trading system. China was the only large emerging economy that exploited relative openness in low-cost manufactured goods to take full advantage of the system. Other emerging economies could at best garner minor gains.
A History Lesson (From Year One) for Trump and the Brexit Crowd: Isolationism Has Never Worked!
Professor Stephane Garelli on growing isolationism.
A Win-Win Game
Business is not a sport where some stakeholder has to lose or fare badly for others to do well. Building an atmosphere of trust and transparency between all stakeholders will help companies retain them even during adverse times.
A Sustainable Model
With a total market value of $4.3 trillion and an employment base of at least 1.3 million direct employees and millions of others indirectly employed, platforms have become an important economic force.*Companies today are constantly looking for ways to build platforms—Infosys Ltd announced its plans of monetizing its platforms to make them a $2 billion business by March 2021. But are all platform businesses successful?
Custom Made
…three in four consumers said they receive too many emails from brands, and one-fifth said they could not handle the current volume…69 per cent have ‘unfollowed’ brands on social media, closed their accounts or cancelled subscriptions.*In these times, when the market is flooded with products and services, the most efficent way to engage customers is to offer them customized content. To achieve this, brands need to focus on observing the nuances of individual preferences.
