Innovative Learning Approaches for Implementation of Lean Thinking to Enhance Office and Knowledge Work Productivity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Innovative Learning Approaches for Implementation of Lean Thinking to Enhance Office and Knowledge Work Productivity

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

Erasmus+ Program aims to increase skills and employability, as well as in implementing innovations in the field of education and training, and support transnational partnerships. In particular “Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices” is focused on collaborative projects aimed at development, sharing and transfer best practices and innovative approaches in the fields of education, training and youth. ILA-LEAN project aimed at development of didactic materials improving knowledge concerning implementation of Lean Thinking in Office and Knowledge Work. The knowledge concerning Lean Thinking is expected by companies, but mostly in practice is used in manufacturing areas. However companies realized that also much wastes exists in Office and Knowledge Work that is why skills concerning identification and elimination of wastes in these areas are desirable. Especially, there is lack of attractiveness of the existing training tools based on playful didactic and lack of flexibility/portability in existing training tools for learning anywhere.
Our objectives concerned development of tools which will support knowledge concerning lean concept implementation in Office and Knowledge Work acquisition and dissemination. Three outputs of the project are developed: O1 – Tablet Course on Lean Office and Knowledge Work, O2 – A set of games on Lean Office and Knowledge Work and O3 – Teachers/Trainers manual.
All partners were participated in outputs development. Companies (three industrial partners) contributed practical knowledge concerning problems existing in Office and Knowledge Work in the industry they operate in, other partners (4 university partners and 1 VET organization) contributed their knowledge concerning didactic methods and training experiences including games development. Knowledge concerning tablet courses development came from other EU project “LEAN Training by doing and training on the go as effective approaches to lean manufacturing” and was used in this project ensuring, in the same time, the continuality and durability of the previous project results. Tablet course presents the materials about how to implement Lean Thinking in Lean Office and Knowledge Work. A set of games teach how in practice Lean Concept can be implemented on the example of chosen processes. A person participating in the games can easily understand importance of Lean Concept implementation in the area of Lean Office and Knowledge Work and can learn what kind of Lean Tools and how they can be used to improve Office and Knowledge Work productivity. Teachers/Trainers manual explains how to lead games to obtain planned educational objectives. All materials being outputs of the project are developed in English and in partners national languages (Polish, Portuguese, Italian, Finish and Norwegian), and are available free on the Website of the Project: ilalean.prz.edu.pl. The developed materials are incorporated in didactic process and trainings realized by educational partners to ensure durability and sustainability of project results.
In the frame of the project one intensive course (C1) on game leading and five local open trainings were realized in Portugal to present the results of the project and teach how to use the developed materials and to disseminate the knowledge about lean concept implementation in Office and Knowledge Work.
In the frame of the project 4 international meeting were realized, in Italy, Portugal, Poland and Finland. The goals of this meetings were exchanging experience and knowledge to obtain effect of synergy and create innovative ideas adding value to the project results. Also another goal was to check the project management activities, expenses, reporting, monitoring and evaluation as well as organization of activities of the next period of time etc. In the project an external evaluator was also engaged and he participated in 3 of the international meetings. His role was to monitor the quality of the results and realization of the schedule.
In May 2018 an international conference had a place. The conference was organized in Poland and it was planned to disseminate project results among companies and educational organizations. The final conference of the project was organized in contemporary with the Lean Learning Academy Conference that every year gathers lean experts from industry and educational organizations as well as students.
The project has national, European and International level (Norway) impact. The developed intellectual project results can be easily implemented in any organization in which knowledge and office work is realized. The Project Partners expect that lean rules implementation in this organizations will bring long-term benefits concerning wastes elimination. Additionally application of the proposed materials can enrich educational and training programs realized in organizations.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 217832 Eur

Project Coordinator

POLITECHNIKA RZESZOWSKA IM IGNACEGO LUKASIEWICZA PRZ & Country: PL

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITETET I STAVANGER
• LATINO-CONFECCOES LDA
• UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO
• OULUN YLIOPISTO
• Salte AS
• Przedsiebiorstwo Produkcji i Handlu “Restol” Sp. z o.o.
• CENTOFORM SRL