Improving Lean engagement through utilising improved communication, recognition and digitalisation during the COVID-19 pandemic in JLR's powertrain machining facility

Abstract

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, many companies around the world continued to implement and drive adherence to Lean principles. However, there are a number of key challenges each company would face when implementing Lean, one of those main challenges being workforce engagement. One way of measuring the engagement of Lean principles is by assessing adherence. In manufacturing organisations around the world, there are differing motivations, and these can be dependent on a number of aspects, such as culture and organisational structure. Therefore, it is imperative to understand employees' motivations in relation to the adherence to Lean principles. This 3-year study of Lean principles assesses the adherence in Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) Powertrain Machining Facility. It also examines methods of instigating a new recognition process, developing an improved communication method, and creating digital solutions to training issues. The main achievement of the research is improving the adherence to the Lean principles, improving adherence to standardised working practices, and improving the utilisation of problem-solving and continuous improvement tools.

Keywords

• lean
• manufacturing
• digitalisation
• covid
• automotive
• oem
• industry 40
• people recognition