Lean Thinking
Toyota Production System philosophy and tools applied to healthcare: learning, case studies, articles, discussions.
Lean thinking has produced some staggering results in a variety of sectors all round the world. We may have a tremendous opportunity to increase productivity, reduce waiting times, lower costs and improve services if Lean can be successfully applied in healthcare.
Lean has been described as the quest for “brilliant process management”. In a nutshell it asks us to think of all healthcare as a series of processes that can be continuously optimised and aligned to true purpose. We know this idea and the attendant tools to help achieve this have jumped successfully from the motor industry it originated in to other sectors. Can it similarly transform the NHS?
This Network is devoted to exploring this idea.
You can discuss lean thinking and this network on the NHS Networks discussion forums.
Useful documents and links
-
Rapid Improvement Events (external link)
Case study of an RIE in Birmingham in an out of hospital setting and how to set up one yourself. -
Going Lean (PDF, 1.2MB)
Introductory guide to lean thinking from the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. (February 2007) -
3rd Lean Healthcare Forum Oct 2006 (external link)
Presentations from the Lean Healthcare Network meeting held in Solihull in October 2006. -
A Basic Way of Thinking (PDF, 69KB)
An introduction to lean thinking, including Toyota's 14 management principals and Deming's 14 points for management -
Going Lean in Healthcare (PDF, 135KB)
White paper prepared by the Massachusetts-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement -
NHS Lean Implementation Handbook (PDF, 82KB)
-
Lean Thinking with John Seddon
In the NHS Networks 'West Yorkshire pages'
Contact: Ray Foley, 0778 756 2184, ray.foley@derbyhospitals.nhs.uk