Title: Integration Flow Management (IFM): Applying lean principles to complex airport logistics projects
Our research has two primary goals. The first one is to investigate to what extent the concepts of lean production are applicable to complex Siemens Airport Logistics (SAL) projects. With the example of Toyota we know, lean principles are very effective in a manufacturing environment. However, the SAL project environment is much more complex in its nature and many characteristics need to be considered that are different from those of manufacturing. We have chosen this topic because, so far, there has been little research done in dealing with this kind of issue. In addition to that SAL is very interested in this topic. As a result, Felix Grimm did a summer internship at Siemens, where he had access to first-hand information about SAL processes. In our analysis we studied various lean concepts that Toyota introduced and concluded that even though some limitations and obstacles exist, due to the difference in systems, those principles can in general be applied to SAL projects as well. The second goal of our thesis (write either “thesis” or “paper” but not both) was to conclude, whether it would be possible to implement lean concepts at SAL…
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Siemens Airport Logistics: Short insights into the business
1.2 Purpos
1.3 What is Integration-Flow-Management (IFM)?
1.4 Layout, procurement and installation phase of the SAL projects
1.4.1 The current situation of the layout and installation phase
1.4.2 Corresponding problems
1.5 Limitations of this paper
2 Methodology
2.1 A Qualitative Research Method
2.2 Available literature on the topic
2.3 Single Case Study as a Research Strategy
2.4 Data Collection
2.4.1 Internal Validity
2.4.2 External Validity
2.4.3 Reliability
2.5 Explaining terminology used in this thesis
3 Theoretical Frame of Reference
3.1 The ideal type of the business environment of SAL‟s branch
3.2 The specifics of projects and project teams in theory
3.3 The Toyota production system: Lean thinking
3.4 Toyota‟s supply chain and supplier relations
3.5 Pros and Cons of Shielding Production
3.6 The Kraljic purchasing portfolio analysis
4 Analysis
4.1 Lean thinking applied to SAL projects
4.2 SAL‟s procurement & logistics function and supplier relations
4.2.1 The importance of purchasing & logistics for the realization of IFM
4.2.2 Technical clearance – Procurement – Delivery
4.2.3 SAL‟s supplier relations
5 Conclusion
5.1 Lean thinking for SAL projects, a feasible approach?
5.2 IFM: pros and cons from the procurement and logistics point of view
5.3 Further research
6 Bibliography
7 Appendix
7.1 Interview Questions Procurement & Logistics Managers
7.2 Interview Questions and Answers with Project Managers
7.3 IFM – SWOT Analysis
Author: Felix Grimm, Jelena Fedotova
Source: Stockholm School of Economics