Lean Thinking via Business Intelligence Technologies and Innovation Process

Abstract

Lean Thinking aims to eliminate non-value added activities in the system. The application of Lean Thinking allows firms, enterprises and organizations to manage quality, decrease variation, reduce costs by eliminating waste. The real time data/ information are important to understand the value of the organization. In order to maintain flow, information should be accurate, up to date and available in the shortest possible time. To reveal the continuous improvement opportunities data must be processed effectively and efficiently. In this point the importance of Business Intelligence (BI) Technologies arises. The integration of Lean Thinking and BI complement each other by BI's providing useful information to lean decision making process improvements. In addition to IT integration with Lean Thinking, the utilized IT software needs to be designed in a way that supplies right information, on the right time and on the right way. The chapter organized in four subsections which are dealt with respectively, BI with Lean Thinking, Lean Thinking with BI, Lean BI, and Adaptation of Lean Tools in BI.