Traditionally, Operational Excellence focused on the operations function: back and mid offices fulfilling the client’s request or manufacturing building products. Main focus was on decreasing handling and throughput time, with techniques like Lean Thinking, Six Sigma and Scientific Management. The goal was mainly to let humans work more efficiently. However, in the last years entering a new era of digital, many industries have been undergoing a digital transformation, with ‘old jobs’ being lost at a big rate. In a true digital transformation, customer experience is improved using digital techniques, while automating the work. As a result, the ‘good old’ back offices are rapidly shrinking and with that the work field of Operational Excellence as well.
So, what is the impact of this digital transformation on the Operational Excellence field of expertise? Should we ‘say goodbye’ to the field of Operational Excellence? Forget about Lean Thinking, Six Sigma and Scientific Management? In short: The answer is “Yes and No”. Let us explain it to you in this whitepaper.
