Improving the invoicing process for a construction company
Blomroos, Pia-Lena (2022)
Blomroos, Pia-Lena
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022101721308
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022101721308
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis was to improve a construction company’s inner sales invoicing process. The aim was to map the current sales invoicing process by collecting the tacit knowledge of the employees and improve the sales invoicing process with the help of Lean methods. The target was to start a continuous development of the inner sales invoicing process.
The theoretical study concentrated on comparing what methods to use for the development project. The fundamentals of knowledge, Lean, value, value stream and waste are examined. The empirical research was conducted by interviewing the key persons and collecting the tacit knowledge. The tacit knowledge was then communicated as explicit knowledge and kaizen sessions were held to form explicit knowledge and get a standardized map of the current invoicing process. The outcomes of the kaizen session were small and cost-effective improvements to the invoicing process.
The material for this research was collected by the means of action research. The approach differs from other research methods since it is spiral in its nature. Each cycle in the research were gone through by plan, act, observe and revise plan until mutual understanding and development occurs. Process map was made based on interviews, following up old invoices and observing the process.
The research produced a standardized inner sales invoicing process and means to continue to develop the invoicing process further. The results of this research helps the company to educate new employees about the inner sales invoicing process and gives keys for developing even other processes with Lean to sustain a competitive edge.
The theoretical study concentrated on comparing what methods to use for the development project. The fundamentals of knowledge, Lean, value, value stream and waste are examined. The empirical research was conducted by interviewing the key persons and collecting the tacit knowledge. The tacit knowledge was then communicated as explicit knowledge and kaizen sessions were held to form explicit knowledge and get a standardized map of the current invoicing process. The outcomes of the kaizen session were small and cost-effective improvements to the invoicing process.
The material for this research was collected by the means of action research. The approach differs from other research methods since it is spiral in its nature. Each cycle in the research were gone through by plan, act, observe and revise plan until mutual understanding and development occurs. Process map was made based on interviews, following up old invoices and observing the process.
The research produced a standardized inner sales invoicing process and means to continue to develop the invoicing process further. The results of this research helps the company to educate new employees about the inner sales invoicing process and gives keys for developing even other processes with Lean to sustain a competitive edge.