Performance improvement in medium scale Norwegian company using lean management methodologies and tools.

The project main goal is to support enhancing the performance by reducing operational expenses (i.e. via reducing waste) in norwegian company Blueday Technology AS using latest innovative methodologies and tools. The project is focused on how to use lean management in office and knowledge work associated with intellectual tasks related to project deliveries. The aim of the doctoral project is to collect data, perform analysis and identify internal processes; define measurements (KPI) with special focus on knowledge work; indicate incorrect actions and performance wastes; define improvement actions and processes which require improvement in regards to indicate the key challenges to the achievement of organizational goals. The company will benefit by gaining transparent map of processes, which will help to identify internal wastes; Findings will be presented to the management and used for future continuous improvement. Due to cost saved in internal workflow and engineering the company will be able to invest more in technical development, R&D. The data gathered will be presented to the employees, so every employee will benefit from the project by learning new methodologies and techniques. The company will gain important knowledge, the personnel will be trained to work more efficient by the use of new methodologies and tools (lean six sigma, last planner system, balanced score card, agile management, daily management system).

Blueday Technology AS projects aims to reduce CO2 emission by developing high-tech solutions for ships and rigs. The company has been suffered with low projects’ profit margins, delayed deliveries, exceeded engineering hours, etc. The aim of the doctoral project is to collect data, perform analysis and identify which company’s processes require improvement in regards to define the key challenges to the achievement of organisational goals. In addition, the project is focused on how to use lean management in office and knowledge work associated with intellectual tasks related to project deliveries. The improvement initiative expected from this project also refers to implementing chosen tools (software) and methodologies from lean management perspective across the whole organisation. This is focused on investigating how to improve a small and medium scale Norwegian industry to enable lower operational expenses in general and enhancing engineering knowledge work related to project deliveries within budget and on time. The aim is to improve the whole organisation, including overall involvement of whole management. This finding shall be used as a benchmarking approach for enhancing other small and medium scale industries. Currently, there are no lean management tools dedicated directly and specifically for companies dependent on office and intellectual work associated with knowledge work that would be widely covered in the literature. Lean management tools covered in literature focus mostly on physical work mostly within manufacturing environments and service sector. Hence, there is a significant need to develop a guideline, framework and improvement plan that could be used for other small companies to help them to be more efficient, meet delivery deadlines and keep the budget within limit.