Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

Even though there is a significant amount of research addressing the application of the Leanmethodology within administrative processes, there is still a need for in-depth studies thatexamine how this methodology can be customized and successfully implemented acrossdifferent industries and sectors. The current study aims to provide valuable insights into thisquestion by focusing on a specific industry and its corresponding administrative processes.Challenges of introducing Lean in administrative environments primarily include correctlyand effectively identifying and measuring waste and inefficiency. In a manufacturing context,resource consumption can often be observed directly, which differs significantly fromadministrative processes where inefficiencies can be more difficult to quantify. This is due tothese processes often involving information transfers, bureaucratic obstacles, and can becharacterized by a high degree of variability.This study is based on a qualitative case study. Data collection was conducted throughinterviews, observations, and workshops within the studied company. The collected data, incombination with previous research and theoretical frameworks, enabled thorough processmapping. Based on this mapping and a subsequent analysis, we were able to draw conclusionsabout the study. With the help of process mapping, three central problems within thecompany's administrative workflows were identified: projects are not finalized, dependencyon the manager, and customer invoices take a long time. Tools from quality engineering wereapplied to determine the causes behind these non-value-adding activities, which were thenclassified according to Lean's categories of waste: overproduction, waiting, motion, andinventory. Based on previous research compiled through the study's literature review,improvement suggestions are presented, including the implementation of a standardizedproject management methodology, improved information management strategies, andexpanded technician competence.The analysis and conclusion point to the fact that by addressing these problems andimplementing the proposed improvement measures, the company's administrative processescan theoretically be minimized in terms of waste and increased customer value. This studycontributes to creating a bridge between theory and practice within the application of the Leanmethodology in administrative processes.