The application of Lean Production methods is nowadays commonplace in high-volume producers, yet developments are lagging in the customized product-environment. Because of the low repeatability of products and the high variance of manufacturing processes, the implementation of traditional Lean techniques in this type of industry is challenging. Lean approaches for so-called project manufacturing or customized manufacturing are required. Some alternative approaches for “Customized Lean” do exist, but these are far less known for two reasons. First, they are often applied ad-hoc according to a specific local situation, and second, the existing body of knowledge on Customized Lean is fragmented and scattered across academic and management literature and/or contained by individual practitioners and researchers and therefor, often not included in educational programs and teaching materials. To unify this body of knowledge a transnational approach is required. Addressing these issues contributes to EU priorities of improving the relevance of higher education eventually resulting in higher attainment levels to provide the graduates Europe needs. These graduates will be better suited for, and thus better employable in todays and future labor market which is important in the Europe 2020 strategy. Euro-LEAN+ seeks to combine innovative teaching approaches with the development of more relevant HE curricula in the field of Customized Lean, through the exploitation of the geographically dispersed knowledge contained within the consortium. The objective of Euro-LEAN+ is to create, unify, capture, reuse and disseminate the knowledge on Customized Lean. Euro-LEAN+ will: 1) Form a Customized Lean Knowledge Community (O1) In order to create, unify, capture, reuse and disseminate the knowledge on Customized Lean, Euro-LEAN+ will create an open Customized Lean Knowledge Community that brings together higher education students, academic staff and industrial manufacturing companies 2) Set up Euro-LEAN Knowledge Base (O2) A knowledge base of case studies and best practices will be created that brings together the knowledge that is currently scattered across literature, practice and HEIs. This knowledge base will have an open character 3) Develop Online Master Course (O3) Euro-LEAN+ will develop a master course on Customized Lean that utilizes new and innovative ways of teaching and learning, enabling close interaction with industry through case studies and online discussion forums 4) Feasibility Study of a Joint Master Program (O4) 5) Multiplier event (E1) Participants; 1) NTNU (Dept. of Production and Quality Engineering) - expertise in global production strategy, lean production logistics, and supply chain management. 2) HAN University of Applied Sciences –experience in teaching a customized Lean and QRM and industry projects. Also globally active research group in Lean for HE. 3) University of Applied Science Osnabrück - experience in research and teaching in the interdisciplinary field of lean management and technology, and applied science approaches to development of SMEs. 4) Ghent - expertise in the areas of operational excellence, and tools and technologies for remote and blended learning. Prof. Frank Gielen is counsel to the European Commission on online teaching strategies. 5) TNO – research organization with large network in industry and previous (EU) project experience in collecting cases and best practices into databases. 6) Kongsberg Maritime – Norwegian producer of subsea solutions 7) Bosch Hinges – Dutch producer of bespoke hinges and exemplar for QRM principles. G. Kaanen, director and owner is also chairman of the royal Dutch ‘Metaalunie’ 8) Ringoplast – German producer of bespoke containers Target groups: Master students (university and industry), teaching staff, research community, and industrial companies. Our methodology will be based on the proactive development of an online Masters course and virtual mobility platform in close collaboration between HE institutions and industrial companies. Results and Impact: Project website; New (blended mobility) Masters level course; Euro-LEAN+ Knowledge community; Knowledge base with a conceptual framework framing Customized Lean knowledge in the form of theory (Wiki), case studies and best practices; Plan to establish an Erasmus+ joint master program (JMP); The development of staff & student mobility; Teaching staff experience with modern teaching methods, final Euro-LEAN+ conference, collaborative webinars. Longer term benefits; The partners will work to extend the knowledge community activities beyond the participating project partners. We will continue to aspire to the aims of the Erasmus+ initiatives of the EU, in particular in increasing the quality and relevance in online education. Euro-LEAN+ will facilitate further steps towards addressing the gap between the required skills of high-tech European manufacturers and the skills provided by HEIs
Lean Manufacturing works well in a repetitive, high volume, low complexity/customization and stable demand environment. However, European manufacturers that operate in a high-variety, low-volume (HV/LV) production environment, are also inclining towards Lean manufacturing due to its benefits. Due to the differences in characteristics between the two production environments, implementation of traditional Lean approaches in HV/LV production environments is challenging. Existing “Customized Lean” approaches are less known because of the scattered and fragmented nature of knowledge and its ad-hoc implementation according to specific local context. To unify this body of knowledge a transnational approach was required. The goal of EuroLEAN+ was to create, unify, capture, reuse and disseminate the knowledge on Customized Lean by combining innovative teaching approaches with the development of more relevant HE curricula in the field of Customized Lean, through the exploitation of the geographically dispersed knowledge contained within the consortium and their industrial relationships. To work toward this goal, following objectives were set for the project: 1) To create a knowledge base of case studies and best practices that brings together the knowledge that is currently scattered across the partners and their contacts with many SMEs in various industries. 2) To develop and share teaching material to be included in European HE courses. 3) To increase experience of academic partners in innovative teaching such that they can apply it broadly across their curricula. Participants: 1) NTNU (Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) - expertise in global production strategy, lean production logistics, and supply chain management 2) HAN University of Applied Sciences – experience in teaching a customized Lean and QRM and industry projects; globally active research group in Lean for HE 3) University of Applied Science Osnabrück - experience in research and teaching in the interdisciplinary field of lean management and technology, and applied science approaches to development of SMEs 4) Ghent - expertise in the areas of operational excellence, and tools and technologies for remote and blended learning 5) TNO – research organization with large network in industry and previous (EU) project experience in collecting cases and best practices into databases 6) Kongsberg Maritime – Norwegian producer of subsea solutions 7) Bosch Hinges – Dutch producer of bespoke hinges and exemplar for QRM principles Main activities undertaken: 1) To facilitate knowledge exchange between higher education students, academic staff and industry: Customised Lean Knowledge Community Website and pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube setup; Webinars, seminars, workshops and presentations at conferences held by consortium members. 2) Open Knowledge Base of methods and case studies on Customised Lean developed with possibility for expansion. 3) Open online master course developed with original content (video lectures) from the EuroLEAN+ consortium; and recommended external content. Several target groups identified and analysed before course development, ensuring high relevance and utility of the course material. 4) Feasibility Study of a Joint Master Program conducted to gain insight into the possibility of developing an Erasmus+ joint master program (JMP) with the current partners within 5 years after the EuroLEAN+ project. 5) QRM World Conference organised at Eindhoven, Netherlands in June 2018 by the QRM Institute in association with EuroLEAN+; utilised for highlighting application-oriented scientific studies and best practices, discussing follow-up activities of the EuroLEAN+ alliance network, disseminating project results for attendees of the conference, and sharing the summary of key activities and financial management. 6) 13 publications (journal papers/conference papers/book chapters) by the consortium members in the project duration Results, impacts and long-term benefits: 1) Various academics-industry partnerships established, and foundations laid for sustaining these partnerships through future alliances. 2) Knowledge on customised lean made available through knowledge base for personal learning or for lectures/group discussions. 3) Teaching material developed and included in European HE courses, followed by live testing and evaluation through feedback. 4) Findings from the feasibility study highlighted themes that are under-emphasised in European courses and are important for future industrial developments. Outline proposed for a prospective future master program; and inspired by the analysis, Lean Engineering Master of Engineering program introduced at HAN University of Applied Sciences. Need for future Knowledge Alliance also identified as a result of the findings. 5) Contributions made to the existing body of knowledge on Customised Lean, preparing for dissemination and exploitation of the created knowledge.