This autumn, Jaakkoo-Taara and Lean Habit Oy launched a joint development project that will last at least six months and improve production and enhance the work culture.
Timo Haapsaari, the founder and CEO of Lean Habit, describes the company’s approach as highly customer-focused and people-oriented. Lean Habit has supported numerous companies in challenging development projects, and now the collaboration has also begun with Jaakkoo-Taara.
– Our collaboration began when Jaakkoo-Taara set the development of operations based on Lean thinking as one of its goals. Lean Habit is assisting in this development to enhance productivity, improve employee well-being, and elevate the quality of work, Haapsaari says.
Efficiency that supports well-being, not at its expense
Although Lean Habit’s goal is to help increase a company’s productivity, this is not done at the expense of employee well-being. The aim is to find ways to make tasks easier, boosting productivity. Haapsaari explains that as an external partner, Lean Habit cannot dictate guidelines to companies; instead, areas for improvement are tackled collaboratively.
– We want to listen to employees, and we have assembled a core group with representatives from all company functions, including management, quality control, and the sales team, to name a few. We visit Jaakkoo-Taara’s premises about once a week to observe work processes, identify challenges, and develop solutions. Sometimes we analyze challenges from a high-level perspective on paper before implementing concrete changes, and other times we spend the entire day on the factory floor in production, Haapsaari explains.
Haapsaari notes that practical-level problems often stem from certain practices being in place for so long that they are now questioned and reconsidered. He shares a concrete example from Jaakkoo-Taara’s shipping department.
– In the shipping department, approximately 500 pages of shipping lists are printed daily. Each order requires three sheets of paper. Each sheet has to be individually moved from one slot to another and transported to various parts of the building, including sales, invoicing, and archiving, at different stages. Additionally, the printed paper is often scanned again to be sent as an email attachment to some customers,” Haapsaari explains.
In reality, not every location requires a separate printed sheet.
– We reviewed the system and are working to reduce the number of sheets from three to one per order, while also minimizing unnecessary archiving needs. Furthermore, the information can be provided electronically directly to customers. This would significantly reduce the amount of printing and handling, free up employees’ time and energy, and save approximately 250 reams of paper annually,” Haapsaari says.
Challenges can be addressed in various ways. Lean Habit’s approach streamlines work processes by encouraging employees to identify the root causes of problems and eliminate them rather than simply addressing the symptoms.
– For example, we suggest purchasing a faster printer or devising efficient methods for archiving. Alternatively, we could challenge the entire operating model by examining the underlying reason for printing and, if possible, eliminate the need for printing altogether, Haapsaari reflects.
The project takes time but builds a sustainable foundation for better work practices
Lean Habit’s goals are to improve flow – finding ways to ensure that products and raw materials move smoothly through production without interruptions – and to foster a culture of daily, continuous improvement within the company.
The project is long-term and requires commitment, which Jaakkoo-Taara has fully embraced.
– Cultural changes take time, and we find it extremely positive that Jaakkoo-Taara has allocated sufficient time in the calendar for our project. This allows us to focus calmly on what truly needs to be done. However, an external partner cannot dictate what must be done. At Lean Habit, we aim to help people learn how to develop their work processes and eliminate unnecessary tasks, Haapsaari explains.