Lean Integration
Encyclopedia
Lean Integration is a management system
that emphasizes creating value for customers, continuous improvement, and eliminating waste as a sustainable data integration
and system integration
practice. Lean Integration has parallels with other lean disciplines such as Lean Manufacturing
, Lean IT
, and Lean software development
. It is a specialized collection of tools and techniques that address the unique challenges associated with seamlessly combining information and processes from systems that were independently developed, are based on incompatible data models, and remain independently managed, to achieve a cohesive holistic operation.
and Lean software development
which is based on the Toyota Production System
. Integration solutions can be broadly categorized as either Process Integration or Data Integration.
The book is based on the premise that Integration is an ongoing activity and not a one-time activity; therefore integration should be viewed as a long term strategy for an organization. John Schmidt and David Lyle initially articulated in their book the reasons for maintaining an efficient and sustainable integration team. Lean Integration as an integration approach must be sustainable and holistic unlike other integration approaches that either tackle only a part of the problem or tackle the problem for a short period of time. Lean Integration drives elimination of waste by adopting reusable elements, high automation and quality improvements. Lean is a data-driven, fact-based methodology that relies on metrics to ensure that the quality and performance are maintained at a high level.
An organizational focus is required for the implementation of Lean Integration principles. The predominant organizational model is the Integration Competency Center
which may be structured as a central group or a more loosely coupled federated team.
but there are some very clear differences between them. Six-Sigma is an analytical technique that focuses on quality and reduction of defects while Lean is a management system that focuses on delivering value to the end customer by continuously improving value delivery processes. Lean provides a robust framework that facilitates improving efficiency and effectiveness by focusing on critical customer requirements.
As mentioned in Lean Integration there are seven core Lean integration principles vital for deriving significant and sustainable business benefits. They are as below:
Application of Lean Integration to Health Care
Press Release about Lean Integration Book
John Schmidt profile
David Lyle profile
Lean Integration book publisher website
Slide show overview of Lean Integration
LinkedIn Group for Lean Integration Community
Book review by Mike Vizard of ITBusinessEdge
Book review by John Morris
John Schmidt and David Lyle Interview by Loraine Lawson
Book review by Joe McKendrick
David Lyle Interview on DM Radio
Management system
A management system is the framework of processes and procedures used to ensure that an organization can fulfill all tasks required to achieve its objectives....
that emphasizes creating value for customers, continuous improvement, and eliminating waste as a sustainable data integration
Data integration
Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of these data.This process becomes significant in a variety of situations, which include both commercial and scientific domains...
and system integration
System integration
In engineering, system integration is the bringing together of the component subsystems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems function together as a system...
practice. Lean Integration has parallels with other lean disciplines such as Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing
Lean manufacturing, lean enterprise, or lean production, often simply, "Lean," is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination...
, Lean IT
Lean IT
Lean IT is the extension of lean manufacturing and lean services principles to the development and management of information technology products and services...
, and Lean software development
Lean software development
Lean software development is a translation of Lean manufacturing and Lean IT principles and practices to the software development domain. Adapted from the Toyota Production System, a pro-lean subculture is emerging from within the Agile community....
. It is a specialized collection of tools and techniques that address the unique challenges associated with seamlessly combining information and processes from systems that were independently developed, are based on incompatible data models, and remain independently managed, to achieve a cohesive holistic operation.
History
Lean Integration was first introduced by John Schmidt in a series of blog articles starting in January 2009 entitled 10 Weeks To Lean Integration. This was followed by a white paper on the topic in April 2009 and the book Lean Integration, An Integration Factory Approach to Business Agility in May 2010.Overview
Lean Integration builds on the same set of principles that were developed for Lean ManufacturingLean manufacturing
Lean manufacturing, lean enterprise, or lean production, often simply, "Lean," is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination...
and Lean software development
Lean software development
Lean software development is a translation of Lean manufacturing and Lean IT principles and practices to the software development domain. Adapted from the Toyota Production System, a pro-lean subculture is emerging from within the Agile community....
which is based on the Toyota Production System
Toyota Production System
The Toyota Production System is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with suppliers and customers...
. Integration solutions can be broadly categorized as either Process Integration or Data Integration.
The book is based on the premise that Integration is an ongoing activity and not a one-time activity; therefore integration should be viewed as a long term strategy for an organization. John Schmidt and David Lyle initially articulated in their book the reasons for maintaining an efficient and sustainable integration team. Lean Integration as an integration approach must be sustainable and holistic unlike other integration approaches that either tackle only a part of the problem or tackle the problem for a short period of time. Lean Integration drives elimination of waste by adopting reusable elements, high automation and quality improvements. Lean is a data-driven, fact-based methodology that relies on metrics to ensure that the quality and performance are maintained at a high level.
An organizational focus is required for the implementation of Lean Integration principles. The predominant organizational model is the Integration Competency Center
Integration Competency Center
The Integration Competency Center , sometimes referred to as an Integration Center of Expertise , is a shared service function within an organization, particularly large corporate enterprises as well as public sector institutions, for performing methodical Data Integration , System Integration or...
which may be structured as a central group or a more loosely coupled federated team.
Lean Integration Principles
The principles of Lean Integration may at first glance appear similar to that of Six SigmaSix Sigma
Six Sigma is a business management strategy originally developed by Motorola, USA in 1986. , it is widely used in many sectors of industry.Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects and minimizing variability in manufacturing and...
but there are some very clear differences between them. Six-Sigma is an analytical technique that focuses on quality and reduction of defects while Lean is a management system that focuses on delivering value to the end customer by continuously improving value delivery processes. Lean provides a robust framework that facilitates improving efficiency and effectiveness by focusing on critical customer requirements.
As mentioned in Lean Integration there are seven core Lean integration principles vital for deriving significant and sustainable business benefits. They are as below:
- Focus on the customer and eliminate waste : Waste elimination should be viewed from the customer perspective and all activities that do not add value to the customer needs to be looked at closely and eliminated or reduced. In an integration context, the customer is often an internal sponsor or group within an organization that uses, benefits from, or pays for, the integrated capabilities.
- Continuously improve : A data driven cycle of hypothesis-validation-implementation should be used to drive innovation and continuously improve the end-to-end process. Adopting and institutionalizing lessons learned and sustaining integration knowledge are related concepts that assist in the establishment of this principle.
- Empower the Team: Creating cross-functional teams and sharing commitments across individuals empower the teams and individuals who have a clear understanding of their roles and the needs of their customers. The team is also provided the support by senior management to innovate and try new ideas without fear of failure.
- Optimize the Whole : Adopt a big-picture perspective of the end-to-end process and optimize the whole to maximize the customer value. This may at times require performing individual steps and activities that appear to be sub-optimal when viewed in isolation, but aidin streamlining the end-to-end process.
- Plan for change : Application of mass customization techniques like leveraging automated tools, structured processes, and reusable and parameterized integration elements leads to reduction is cost and time in both the build and run stages of the integration life-cycle. Another key technique is a middleware services layer that presents applications with enduring abstractions of data through standardized interfaces allows the underlying data structures to change without necessarily impacting the dependent applications.
- Automate processes : Automation of tasks increases the ability to respond to large integration projects as effectively as small changes. In its ultimate form, automation eliminates integration dependencies from the critical implementation path of projects.
- Build quality in : Process excellence is emphasized and quality is built in rather than inspected in. A key metric for this principle is First time through percentage which is a measure of the number of times an end-to-end process is executed without having to do any rework or repeat any of the steps.
Benefits of Lean Integration
The Lean integration practices transforms integration from an art into a science, a repeatable and teachable methodology that shifts the focus from integration as a point-in-time activity to integration as a sustainable activity that enables organizational agility. Once an organization adopts the integration as a science it enhances the organization’s ability to change rapidly without comprising on the IT risk or quality thereby transforming the organization into an agile data driven enterprise. The following are the advantages derived by adopting the lean integration practices:- Efficiency: Typical improvements are in the scale of 50% labor productivity improvements and 90% lead-time reduction through continuous efforts to eliminate waste.
- Agility: Reusable components, highly automated processes and self service delivery models improve the agility of the organization.
- Data Quality: Quality and reliability of data is enhanced and data becomes a real asset.
- Governance: Metrics are established that drive continuous improvement.
- Innovation: Innovation is facilitated by using fact-based approach.
- Staff Morale: IT staff is kept engaged with high morale driving bottom-up improvements.
See Also:
- Integration Competency CenterIntegration Competency CenterThe Integration Competency Center , sometimes referred to as an Integration Center of Expertise , is a shared service function within an organization, particularly large corporate enterprises as well as public sector institutions, for performing methodical Data Integration , System Integration or...
- Lean software developmentLean software developmentLean software development is a translation of Lean manufacturing and Lean IT principles and practices to the software development domain. Adapted from the Toyota Production System, a pro-lean subculture is emerging from within the Agile community....
- Lean ITLean ITLean IT is the extension of lean manufacturing and lean services principles to the development and management of information technology products and services...
- Data IntegrationData integrationData integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of these data.This process becomes significant in a variety of situations, which include both commercial and scientific domains...
- Toyota Production SystemToyota Production SystemThe Toyota Production System is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with suppliers and customers...
External Links:
Lean Integration book micrositeApplication of Lean Integration to Health Care
Press Release about Lean Integration Book
John Schmidt profile
David Lyle profile
Lean Integration book publisher website
Slide show overview of Lean Integration
LinkedIn Group for Lean Integration Community
Book review by Mike Vizard of ITBusinessEdge
Book review by John Morris
John Schmidt and David Lyle Interview by Loraine Lawson
Book review by Joe McKendrick
David Lyle Interview on DM Radio