Lean Systems
Lean
Systems
Home Depot relies on
standard operating procedures in order to help associates fulfill their jobs daily.
The standards that are expected include but are not limited to, merchandising
in order to keep up with fire codes and regulations as well as reviewing and
addressing all product issues so that safety is always guaranteed. It is also
important that we assure we are properly addressing any product issues in order
to remain environmentally friendly.In doing this, intensive
training is provided especially when handling and dealing with hazardous
materials. Employees are given the proper steps to take when dealing with
inventory as well as any storage clean up issues that could occur on the job.
There is a "bag patching program" that helps to go through bags of
bags such as mulch and learn to patch them in order to avoid any spills and
messes.
At Home Depot we choose
to use our space as our inventory storage which also doubles as retail space.
Our website also helps to decided and review our inventory. It alerts suppliers
on what is needed and what we do not need now. We use our mobile app as well as
our website to review orders as well as decided a schedule for order
fulfillment processes. Our online website and app have been used more heavily
in recent years and rely a-lot on it for inventory purposes. In us to reach
total productive maintenance, we use detailed checklists that are kept up on throughout
the day. These checklists are checked off and completed multiple time a week.
At Home Depot we use a
mixture of the push/pull method. This is because the store holds inventory
while online offers more options to order. An example of the pull method at
Home Depot is when a customer chooses the paint, he or she wants based off the
swatches offered in store. Once the customer picks their desired paint color,
they then bring it to a sales associate and their paint is mixed right there
in-front of them.
A uniform workstation
load lessens wait time for customers by giving them the option of iPod partial
checkouts. This is designed to help stimulate a positive customer experience.
If it is a busier day, an associate will use, and iPod provided by Home Depot
to scan in the customers items while he or she is waiting in line. The scanner
then scans the items onto a card and then the customers hands this to the
associate behind the register. This is meant to lessen the wait time for customers,
but it is not yet 100% lean and needs some work.
Six
Sigma:
By 2003, six sigma began
to create a reputation for Home Depot. They announced a 3-part strategy for
their continued growth with the six-sigma approach:
1. Enhancing the core business
2. Extending the business
3. Expanding the business
"We
are investing in 'game-changing' opportunities, for example by tripling our
investment in new systems initiatives, by applying six sigma business process
involvement practices across the enterprise, and by rolling out efficient cross
dock transit facilities." (isixsigma.)
- Laws and
Regulations
- Child Labor as
well as Forced Labor
- Abuse and
Harassment
- No
Discrimination
- Freedom of
Association
- Safety and
Health
- Compliance and
monitoring
- Subcontracting
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