Facilities Embraces the “Lean” Process

Lean, as it relates to the Office of Facilities (Facilities) is a process that strives to assure that the value of the service provided is consistent with the resources utilized to perform it. In this case, the Lean process is about finding ways to eliminate waste while improving and enhancing the process required to perform the service. Lean focuses on removing waste while increasing customer value; it’s about smooth process flows, performing only those activities that add value and removing those that do not.

Lean was first introduced to the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs in May 2009 by UTSA’s Director for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Lean Systems, Dr. F. Frank Chen. In July 2009, Facilities met with Dr. Chen and his colleagues to discuss how the Lean process could positively impact small renovation projects totaling less than $100,000. By January 2010, Facilities had initiated the process of improving existing procedures and the delivery of customer service.

For additional information on the Lean process please visit The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems at http://camls.utsa.edu/index.htm.

Update: As part of UTSA’s Lean Initiative, beginning January 1, 2011 all work requests must be entered using the iService Desk program.