A Voice of the Customer exercise within the Lean Business System group

1. Why Join the Lean Business System Group
Response Summary
Total Started Survey: 24
Total Completed Survey: 24 (100%)
1. Why did you want to take part in this survey?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Activist in discussions/want to help shape
41.7% 10
the group.
Interested in the group.
79.2% 19
Like to take part in surveys. 0.0% 0
2. Why did you join the Lean Business System group?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Wanted to learn about ‘lean thinking’.
70.8% 17
Part of a lean programme in work.
29.2% 7
Researching lean related topics.
54.2% 13
Interested in Peter Hines’ work.
33.3% 8
Invited to join.
12.5% 3
3. What benefits do you receive from being a group member?
answered question 24
skipped question 0

2. Response Response
Percent Count
Learning from discussions.
83.3% 20
Taking part in discussions.
41.7% 10
Networking.
25.0% 6
Other – give example below
8.3% 2
Other (please specify)
3
4. What is missing from this group that you would like to see?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response
Count
Show Responses 24
Showing main text responses
 Participation from actual companies who have gained/loss from various lean initiatives
 Examples and tools. Success stories.
 Like many groups getting more people to contribute meaningfully can be a challenge. But not everyone has the time
of course!
 A section on what when well and not so well during implementation and going forward
 Possible 1 or 2 per year gathering/forum/event to embed discussed issues > A to Z of lean ‐ regular points of note
[like "thought for today"] routing members back through the basics.
 I'd really like to see some discussion on building lean management systems. What have others actually done (not the
theoretical or conceptual visions, but the actual actions/plans/processes).
 Lean being used in service, education, government etc and showing how the manufacturing lean tools been adapted
to other industries.
 Commercial benefit ‐ much discussion is about tools and theory of lean.
 More about successful implementations. More about the business perspective in implementing methodologies
versus the technicalities in implementing the methodologies.
 It'd be good to see more participation of practitioners from developing countries such as China
 Maybe some short articles highlighting different topics regarding implementation and the use of tools in practice
with examples.
 Index to search and find topics easy
 Practical examples with pictures and case studies
 I would like to see your thoughts on Lean Dynamics and an exploration of a possible link between a person’s "system
knowledge" and LEAN enhancement. I have personally installed LEAN processes and principles by showing other
users how to transform data to adapt it to their requirements, saving large amounts of time and money. A lot of the
time, I have found that people are unaware of other possibilities and do not explore for a "quicker, better" route,
they "stick to what they know"
 A clear set of rules and objectives. There also seems to be a lack of overall control, leadership and or chair person.
 More technical information related to the application of Lean to production lines

3. 5. What other lean orientated groups do you belong to?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response
Count
Show Responses 24
Showing main text responses
 Lean Sigma
 ASQ, ASQ Detroit Chapter, Continuous Improvement, APICS
 MS Dynamics AX TAP for the new Lean/Kanban functionality
 Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, & Lean Group Business Process Improvement Lean
Practitioners Six Sigma Lean Six Sigma
 Lean Six Sigma
 PMP
 CQI UK. BAE SYSTEMS EMPLOYEE & ALUMNI NETWORK. BUSINESS & JOBS UK. MINITAB.
 over 25 LinkedIn groups
 lean six sigma, six sigma, TOC
 Carbon Management Network
 Lean Manufacturing Network
 SME‐Lean Enterpirse Inst‐ASQ
 Green Lean Six Sigma Association
 Lean i Danmark (Lean in Denmark) Lean Practioners Group Lean Service Solutions Lean Hospital
Lean and Green
 Global Lean and Six Sigma Network, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma and Lean Group
 CQI
 Lean Manufacturing Network
6. What do these groups offer that Lean Business System does not?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response
Count
Show Responses 24
Showing main text responses
 Exploring other tools other then lean

4.  Nothing. I think the LBS groups strikes a good balance between theory and practice
 Different perspective
 They are all unique in their own way
 All are about the same. Some good discussions when a good question is proposed. None capture the "highlights" of
the discussions, so you have to go back through 6‐18 months of comments to try to glean the information.
 More specific detailed tools as I can see so far, but the inter networking with others in the fields is very valuable.
 Discussions on the combination of Lean and other techniques in practice
 Just more discussions and topics. And one group is in Danish offering the possibility of increasing the visibility of my
consulting/training company to potential Danish customers.
7. Has joining this group benefited your:
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Career?
29.2% 7
Organisation?
12.5% 3
Education?
70.8% 17
How? (please specify)
18
Show Responses
Showing main text responses
 Increased the depth of lean understanding
 Not yet but with regular reading of topics this may help me relate the concept to colleagues.
 New ideas
 I have been researching LSS deployments
 Yes because I have became Six Sigma certified and Lean certified
 Reading and Learning new ideas
 Insight into best available
 Consider areas where lean can be applied
 Giving me access to information that enhances my credibility
 Different perspectives
 Give me more ideas and different pointsof view
 The scholar/practitioner interaction helps me better understand the Lean concepts/techniques in
practice
 Building knowledge on Lean through the reading and participation in discussions is valuable on a
personal level and in my daily work
 Other members recommended a good book.
 Further understanding and learning of LEAN concepts, and adaption and exploration of new ideas.
 Provided me with other view points and interesting topics I may not have considered
8. Would you recommend the Lean Business System group to other people/colleagues?

5. answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes
95.8% 23
No
4.2% 1
Why? (please specify)
12
Show Responses
Showing main text responses
 Help further enhance their lean application in real life
 For the breadth of industry knowledge available and the willingness for it to be shared.
 Because of the various participants’ experience and knowledge
 Its own particular uniqueness
 Law of numbers ‐ the more people you have, the more engagement you get.
 Can be informative
 It's interesting
 With the strong leadership and active participation of Professor Hines, it's a unique group that offers high value to its
members
 Benefits: Networking / exchange opinions / ask or get help
 It provides many different outlooks in a variety of business sectors
 Information rich. Active leader. Interesting discussions.
9. Has joining the Lean Business System group encouraged you to attend:
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Any events?
58.3% 14
Training Courses?
41.7% 10
Conferences?
12.5% 3
Please give examples
19
Show Responses
Showing main text responses
 Looking closer at e.g. APICS

6.  Obtaining an M.S. in Management with Operations Improvement
 I volunteer to join events and I have attended a six sigma GB course
 Keen to explore postgrad study in lean
 I haven't yet got a chance to attend any events/training courses so far. But once the opportunities
arise, I'd like to attend such events.
 Lean and Green Conference
 Encouraged but not yet attended anything.
10. What type of role do you hold in your organisation?
answered question 24
skipped question 0
Response Response
Percent Count
Team member
16.7% 4
Team Leader/Manager
66.7% 16
Director or above
16.7% 4