In a time in which markets change faster than ever and competition is fierce, Lean Management appears more often than ever as a successful alternative way of managing a company and its productive processes, having started in the automobile industry but spreading to different other areas and business. That way, this investigation focuses on the possible implementation of Lean Management in a canteen. Since this investigation took place during the Covid-19 outbreak it would be impossible not to observe its implications and to explore ways to avoid the transmission in the canteen. Given that, the objectives of this project were to assess if there are ways in which Lean can be implemented to a canteen so that it improves its performance, and which are the changes and solutions to be applied that could improve the company processes. It was also assessed whether Lean could help finding solutions to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. The method chosen to approach this investigation was to conduct a case study in a canteen at the Polytechnic of Oporto. The data was obtained by direct observation as well by communicating with workers, students, and direction of the company. The data was later analysed by the Lean thinking perspective and there were found solutions to implement. The main findings of the investigations were that not all the lean methods are appropriate to be implemented in a canteen, however some of the Lean methods and the pursuit of waste elimination itself can contribute with beneficial solutions for the company which manages the canteen and for the canteen itself. For last, there can be found more ways to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 while pursuing Lean and using Lean continuous improvement mindset.
Date of Award | 13 Jul 2021 |
---|
Original language | English |
---|
Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
|
---|
Supervisor | Jorge Julião (Supervisor) |
---|
- Lean
- Canteen
- COVID-19
- Standardization
- Waste elimination
Application of lean thinking in a canteen during a Covid-19 scenario
Carneiro, J. M. D. S. (Student). 13 Jul 2021
Student thesis: Master's Thesis