The Digital Battle — Lean Engineering Techniques

 Is engineering like a factory? Is there really waste that needs to be eliminated?  If so, what is holding us back from really cutting the waste and improving processes? In the latest Digital Battle, Craig Brown and the new Digital Enterprise Board of Trustees Vice President Mark Pendergast take on the topic of lean engineering techniques. Craig and Mark start out on the same side of this argument, but don’t worry, that doesn’t last long as they further examine the successes, roadblocks, and possibilities of lean engineering techniques.   On today’s podcast, you will learn:   Why is engineering resistant to lean techniques? From Craig's perspective, lean techniques require the user to examine how wasteful they are. Engineers, managers, decision makers (and all humans) tend to think everything they do is useful, so is there really any waste to be cut? Mark’s experience taught him about lean before engineering, so he has no problem with cutting where necessary. The elite attitude of engineering limits the ability for lean techniques to succeed.   How is engineering like a factory? Consider the flow of information and decisions as they relate to both engineering and a factory. If you can apply lean to decision making rather than to people, it can be easier to talk about. Mark argues that there is incredible amounts of waste in the bureaucracy of engineering. The bulk of engineering work is the same process day after day. The 5 Whys are the questions that engineers need to ask themselves to reduce waste.   Lean techniques that are incompatible with engineering Mark says no - the application of these techniques can only have a positive result. Craig agrees - there is no downside to applying lean techniques to engineering. Lean techniques more easily identify where the problems are on the factory floor and then do something about it. Engineering struggles most when they don’t know their process. “Draining the swamp” prioritized lean techniques to help control both the loss and the improvements.   Engaging engineering in lean transformations  Craig recommends engineering spend more time on the floor for an eye-opening view of the waste that can be eliminated. Mark calls out middle management as the battleground - upper management needs to reward the people who are willing to implement these techniques, even if they fail. To get to the digital future, we’re going to have to eliminate not only the physical waste of today but the digital waste going forward.   Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series