Implementing lean in processes

In January 2018, Hansel started the development of new services – development of procurement and dynamic purchasing system (DPS) – as a strategic project. The goals were to improve customer satisfaction and quality by utilising the Lean approach and service design, as well as to reduce operating costs and shorten lead times.

Excellence Finland assisted Hansel in this process. Special goals were increasing process efficiency, reducing wastage and increasing value to customers.

Almost twenty experts from different parts of the organisation – category management, procurement development, procurement support, customer relations and digital services – participated in the project at different stages. Representatives of customer organisations were also invited to join the project to offer a valuable customer perspective.

The Lean approach and Lean tools allowed for a definition of actions that would add benefits to the tendering and contractual management process in framework agreements. A variety of Lean tools were tested during the project period, such as a fishbone diagram for the determination of problems and improvement suggestions.

The project succeeded in reducing the amount of overlapping work, developing customer materials and agreement documents, boosting the use of the XRM system, testing a structured agreement and introducing the electronic signing of agreements. A Kanban board for studying workflows and lead times and a hatchery for ideas on the intranet were introduced.