Edinburgh Napier University

  Lean has been adopted by public sector organisations to combat the growing challenges in tackling demand, capacity, service provision and issues around the reduction of errors and managing variation in processes. This chapter discusses the specific case of Trust A, a Scottish Health Board and how Lean has been implemented beyond acute service provision to include shared services.
In addition, the chapter reviews, the process of Lean implementations and the outcomes and sustainability generated through Lean. Challenges are noted but it argues that concentration on the social aspects of Lean in shared services generates real benefits across the value chain.