Parallel Incremental Transformation Strategy: An Approach to the Development of Lean Supply Chains

ABSTRACT

The vision of the lean supply chain is increasingly clear; the techniques and tools for analysing supply chain performance are increasingly well defined; however, it is also clear that the transformation of supply chains from current status to lean is a complex and protracted task. After briefly reviewing the key aspects of value stream management, this paper describes the Parallel Incremental Transformation Strategy (PITS), an approach to triggering and sustaining the supply chain improvement process. The application of the PITS methodology is described in two scenarios: a company operating a global supply chain in the footwear sector and the upstream automotive component supply chain in the UK.