Written by Lean for Hope is an initiative associated with Honsha (founded by Sammy Obara), which focuses on applying Lean principles to create positive social impact. Lean methodologies, originally developed for improving efficiency in manufacturing, are adapted to help organizations in the social sector enhance their operations, reduce waste, and better serve their communities, such as education, health, and community development.
Here are some examples of their projects in Africa:
- Worked with World Vision to improve office operations in Ethiopia in 2014
- Eliminated redundant activities, and implemented new procedures for warehouse control and distribution
- Eliminated non-value-added processes, reduced annual fuel consumption by 71%, freed up 20% of the workforce to focus on value added activities
- Reduced acquisition purchasing lead time by 78% and reduced consultancy service costs by 64%
- Enhance the distribution of medication to remote villages in East Timor in 2005.
- Reached 70% more patients with the same team in the same amount of time, and improved medical supply inventory accuracy by 45%
- Coached over 20 high school students in computer skills
- Eliminated spoilage and streamlined the ordering process to provide daycare meals for 120 children
- Partnered with World Vision to help underserved women initiate their own businesses with microfinance loans in Kenya (2009).
- Reduced loan approval lead time by 60%, increased rural presence by 60%, increased loan applications by 240% and increased the credit portfolio by 45%
- Reduced coconut farm inventory by 80%, improved productivity by 85%, implemented KPI Visual Boards, improved workflow and workstation ergonomics
View all their recent projects at https://honsha.org/social-responsibility/