The impact of an accelerated improvement workshop on ordering and receiving

In collaboration with the Boeing Company, Wichita State University (WSU) Libraries and the Wichita State University Industrial Engineering Department employed Kaizen and Lean Management principles to successfully implement an accelerated improvement workshop (AIW) in the Libraries' Technical Services Department. This case study explains the development of the Kaizen team, planning and training, Kaizen, and Lean Management theory and terminology, and the method used to reduce processing time. Materials processing time was reduced from 25 to 15 days. The team concluded that the AIW event had beneficial results and suggests AIW applications in other library units.