8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery

Unit Overview

8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery is a unit that is one of the main units that is covered in the completion of ILM Level 5 Qualification in Leadership and Management. After identifying the need to implement effective lean production and improvement methodologies, it is critical for the leaders to show ability to apply these methodologies within their areas of responsibility. This involves being able to coach and mentor the employees within your areas of responsibility that are affected by lean production.

Leaders must ensure they develop these abilities related to coaching and mentoring individuals to provide support. This involves being able to plan and mobilise the necessary resources that they will need to ensure that the projects they are implementing are successful in meeting the desired improvement goals and objectives.

8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery is a unit that is designed to help the learners within the workplace to achieve the desired skills and capabilities to effectively apply and manage lean production and improvement methodologies. The main purpose and aim of this unit is to build the skills and knowledge to implement and review service delivery improvement projects using lean production and improvement methodologies. This unit is taught in 12 hours of guided learning, which is primarily designed for coaching or mentoring support as learners apply the learned principles to agreed projects of service delivery improvement. It contributes 11 credit values towards the completion of the module in general.

Suitability of the unit

8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery is a practical unit that helps the learners to understand the principles and approaches of applying the learned concepts. In this unit, the learners are guided to effectively apply and evaluate the service delivery improvement using lean production and improvement techniques. As such, this unit is important for stakeholders who are responsible for overseeing the process of implementing the strategies and projects that have been developed in relation to managing service delivery and its improvement.

The unit helps the leaders to build the practical skills that are required in their areas of responsibility or in the organisational context. This helps them to effectively mobilise resources, implement the plan and review its efficiency in achieving the desired goals.The unit is designed with a focus on the learning needs of middle managers within the organisations. These are groups of organisational leaders responsible for overseeing activities across a department, line or region.

They need to understand the practical principles of applying lean production and improvement techniques in improving service delivery within their areas of responsibility. However, the unit has vital skills and knowledge that is also applicable to other stakeholders within the workplace. Team leaders and top managers also require to build these skills relevant to improving service delivery, and the unit is suitable for providing them with practical experience to achieve learning standards. Employees can also use this unit as a building block to prepare them for further leadership roles and positions within the organisation as well as help them to better understand their organisations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, the learners should be able to:

• Develop a plan that is designed to improve a workplace project with the use of lean production and improvement methodologies.

• Implement an appropriate improvement to service delivery using the developed plan

• By using appropriate tools and monitoring techniques, facilitate continuing implementation of the improvement project within the workplace

• Evaluate the efficiency of the improvement project and its success, explain its use in achieving long-term sustainability of the improvement

• create a report documenting the implementation of the improvement project and communicate the outcomes of the improvement project

Key Learning Areas

8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery focuses on creating practical skills for implementing and managing service delivery improvement. The key areas of learning that this unit focuses on include:

Project Development and Implementation using Lean Production and Improvement Techniques

This area of learning helps the learner to build skills for effective project planning and implementation. They are guided to understand the various methods and techniques of applying lean production and improvement techniques, including measuring and analysing problems with the service delivery. Learners are also guided to build skills in leading and guiding people through the improvement process. Lastly, this area of learning helps the learners to understand the strategies that they can use to introduce changes to the existing systems and procedures of service delivery as well as monitoring their effectiveness.

Evaluation and Reporting of a Service Improvement Project

This area of learning is important in helping the learner to develop an understanding of documenting the efficiency of the service improvement project. Within this area of learning, the learners must prepare a report on the procedures and efficiency of the plan that they have implemented within their area of practice.

Evaluation

8607-524 Applying Lean Production and Improvement Methodologies to Operational Problems in Service Delivery is a practical unit. As such, the learners are assessed to determine their ability t apply learned concepts in practical settings. it is evaluated using a supervised practice where the learners are supervised, coached and mentored through the process of implementing the lean production and improvement techniques in improving service delivery.