The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-XII (RTWPB-XII), in partnership with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board XII (NCMB XII) and Employees’ Compensation Commission XII (ECC XII), conducted an area-wide convergence and training on Lean Management in General Santos City.

Over 60 participants from more than 30 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in various sectors attended the activity.

The training served as a valuable opportunity for participants to better understand how Lean Management can help enterprises do more with available resources while creating better results.

Ms. Faye Kim Wee, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer of RTWPB-XII, discussed the concepts of Lean Management and the eight types of waste, helping participants recognize common non-value-adding activities that affect daily operations. She, likewise, encouraged MSMEs to reflect on their own processes and identify simple but meaningful improvements in the workplace.

Meanwhile, Mr. Randy Oliver Legada, IT Officer I of RTWPB-XII discussed the DMAIC Methodology—Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control, along with its tools and techniques as a practical guide in solving workplace problems and sustaining improvements. He underscored the importance of having a systematic approach in addressing operational concerns, sharing that “improvement becomes more effective when problems are clearly defined, measured properly, and addressed using the right tools.”

Through the session, participants gained useful insights on how to apply Lean tools and structured problem-solving methods in their own enterprises.

The activity also featured partner-agency discussions that added more value to the convergence. ECC-XII presented the Employees’ Compensation Program, giving participants a clearer understanding of the support and benefits available to workers in cases of work-related sickness, injury, disability, or death. NCMB-XII, on the other hand, discussed the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, highlighting peaceful and practical ways to address workplace concerns and promote better labor-management relations.

Lean Management provides basic tools and techniques for enhancing customer value by optimizing resources and reducing various forms of waste to improve overall enterprise efficiency. (Randy Oliver Legada)