FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL PROBLEM-SOLVING IN LEAN: A FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH IN MALAYSIAN AUTOMOTIVE

From household issues to complex organizational cases, problem-solving is a common but critical matter in our life. Organizations have tried to harness maximum benefit from lean, but evidence of implementing problem-solving principles is rare. This study intends to emphasize on importance and expose the highly influencing success factors to establish continuous problem-solving and learning in any organization with the example of an automotive industry case in Malaysia. A list of elements of problem-solving principles of lean and another for success factors to implement lean has been compiled through a comprehensive review of contemporary literature. Then a focus group of sixteen professional experts selected meticulously from a reputed Malaysian Automotive industry thoroughly discussed the subject matter in group meetings to get their judgments based on experience and shared knowledge. The approach of grading success factors at the element level of principles of lean is an added methodology to the existing knowledge, and the results of highly influencing success factors for the implementation of elements of principles of problem-solving in lean is a new and helpful insight for organizational leaders and researchers. The author assumes this research may take lean implementation to the next level of success. Modern organizations must build lean problem-solving culture by motivating and empowering management employees who have process-level understanding and are accountable with different metrics. The key to success also depends highly on operators' inclusiveness and managing their reactions to change. Both management and process workers must drive lean as a team.