Integrating Lean and employee involvement in developing the work process and well-being in a hospital setting

Abstract

This paper describes an intervention project on how to integrate psychosocial risk control and Lean methods. Six Danish hospital wards participated in an intervention study aimed at developing a work innovation tool, combining the workflow analysis in Lean with well-being improvement activities. The methodology builds on value stream mapping (VSM) and aims to improve communication by enhancing relational coordination. Groups of employees carry out VSM of selected processes, follow up with the collection of data on these processes, and develop suitable solutions for them. The evaluation shows that VSM provides new insights, which help employees identify and implement improvements and that these improvements most often have a positive effect on both well-being and production. Employee participation is crucial, but external facilitator assistance to the wards is needed for proper implementation.