Lean Office: Proposition and Application of a Process-Mapping Method Based on the Shingo Production Mechanism (SPM)

Abstract

This study proposes a process-mapping method based on the SPM to identify waste in office environments. Design Science Research was used to develop a method (M0) for mapping processes in office environments. This method was subjected to critical analysis by four experts in the field, who sent their contributions. Thus, a new method (M1) was generated, which was instantiated in a company in Brazil in the process of technical publications and user guides. As a result, in the practical application, it was possible to verify the efficiency of the proposed method, and the future flow of the analyzed flow allowed a reduction in the lead time by 75% and an increase in the rate of added value from 4.88% to 19.56%. The method can contribute to the identification of waste more complex than the usual VSM and thus improve office environments. This way, managers and process engineers can understand the activities in detail and propose improvements in these processes, generating greater speed and precision. This method proposal for administrative environments, aims to expand the detailing of waste, allowing greater precision in the identification of waste and, consequently, greater effectiveness in improving the process flow analyzed.