What is Sustainment
Sustainment is the concept of maintaining results of Lean improvement projects.
Why Sustainment
General advantages
- Structurally maintain gained improvements.
- Effectively prevents the need to repeatedly solve the same recurring problems.
Reduces waste types
- ☐ Conveyance
- ☐ Inventory
- ☐ Motion
- ☐ Waiting
- ☐ Overproduction
- ☐ Overprocessing
- ☐ Correction
When to use Sustainment
Essential conditions
Standardized Work
One of the most important way to sustain results is through work standardization, as it ensures that procedures are clearly documented and regularly updated.
Non-essential conditions
5S
The 5S methodology strongly supports sustainment by introducing and reinforcing discipline throughout the entire system.
Poka-Yoke
If possible, this is definitely is the best and preferred way to sustain, as it helps prevent failure from occurring altogether.
Training Plan
Skills and knowledge can be sustained through a training plan focused on developing human resources.
How to implement and use Sustainment
Implementation
- When the prerequisites are met, sustainment is an effect that automatically follows from it. Therefore, it does not need to be “created” in itself.
Use
- Nothing special is required for usage.
Where to find it
IASSC Body of Knowledge:
Lean: 29
Yellow ➔ N/A
Green ➔ Apply
Black ➔ Apply
Lean Six Sigma: –
Yellow ➔ N/A
Green ➔ N/A
Black ➔ N/A
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About the Author
Floris Lap is an IASSC-certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and founder of Procestimal. He empowers organizations to maximize value and reduce waste through practical Lean Six Sigma solutions—contributing to a more sustainable world where businesses thrive with minimal resources. Contact us
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