Benefits of a learning factory in the context of lean management for the pharmaceutical industry

The past has shown that the successful implementation of lean in organizations needs employees with sufficient knowledge about methods and principles of lean management. The mediation of these skills during the ongoing production is known as a more efficient concept than other approaches. Consequences could be an additional cost and time pressure. Therefore the Fraunhofer IPK and TU Berlin have developed a training concept, together with a German pharmaceutical company, which makes it possible for the employees to acquire the new knowledge under real conditions and without disruption of production. The paper introduces this concept of a "Lean Factory" for pharmacy.