Inventory Reduction
Coaching
Background
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially-sighted in the UK, with the aim of supporting the further two million in the UK living with sight loss. TLMC were invited to visit the national workshop as part of Toyota's corporate fundraising and we met a team of people with an incredible customer focus. With this shared value we set about looking for ways TPS could be used to help.
Guide Dogs
After an initial review we decided that the "Just in Time" pillar of TPS and specifically "pull and fill up" could be applied to reduce inventory. Not only freeing up valuable cash this allowed for better visual management and maintained confidence that a client would never be kept waiting for equipment.
Results
Pull System and Reduced Inventory
Compared to the starting condition the inventory was reduced by 66%. Lean doesn't mean no inventory it means appropriate inventory. In fact in some instances additional product was needed. Having the appropriate inventory and a kanban system which provides visual control means the workshop can continue to offer equipment within 24 hours which is important because a guide dog without a harness cannot offer the vital support clients rely on. The £14,000 reduction in inventory can be used to improve lives.