More than 7000 users utilize iObeya’s solution, on a daily basis, all around the world.
Real-time multi-site animation: collaboration and solidarity in the animation of teams. More participative and active management.
High Security: improved information exchange and guaranteed data security.
An immediate return on investment from the savings on office space and travel costs.
Context
The PSA Group demonstrates their new multi-site collaboration practices
Solve the problem of multi-site and collaborative work with teams all over the world
Results
- Real-time multi-site animation: collaboration and solidarity in the animation of teams. A more participative and active management.
- High Security: improved information exchange and guaranteed data security.
- An immediate return on investment from the savings on office space and travel costs.
Transforming Oobeya rituals into iObeya rituals
The PSA Group has been a leader in the deployment of Lean Management since the deployment of their PSA Excellence System program in 2007. The objective was to improve the Group’s performance in a sustainable way while enhancing customer satisfaction, both internal and external.
Firstly, the Group has chosen to set up visual management systems in certain departments through Oobeya rituals (from the Japanese word for “large meeting room”). These Oobeyas allow problems to surface and be resolved immediately.
“One of my colleagues explained to me how their Oobeya rituals worked with suppliers coming twice a week to Paris from the North of France, the need to stick post-it notes containing highly confidential data plus the cost of the space for all whiteboards. I told myself that there was probably an answer to the travel and coordination issues between the different places and stakeholders”, Bernard Cohen, the IT Innovation Manager recalls.
In 2010, as part of the global collaboration strategy, the PSA Group took the opportunity to switch to iObeya, the digital version of the physical Oobeya developed by Kap IT.
“The enthusiasm was immediate. Users began using the tool naturally, as if they were using it in a physical room”, Frédéric Durka, Head of Strategic Intranet and Obeya Multi-site Projects.
Deploy the iObeya solution on a large scale
To implement this solution, the PSA Group chose three technologies.
- Interactive SMART Board’s allow teams to keep the original spirit of visual management, where the entire team is around the board with iObeya digital notes.
- Combining Skype for Business software offers the possibility to share information and verbally communicate.
- iObeya, a digitization software for Lean Management tools, which allows us to have a virtual mode of operation identical to the physical one.
“This solution fits perfectly with all our standards, is simple to maintain and also extremely user-friendly”, Stéphane Lalmanach, IT Project Manager.
“This is a project with no obstacles,” explains Frédéric Durka, Head of Strategic Intranet and Obeya Multi-site Projects. “Everyone was satisfied. The users did not need any training. They entered the tool intuitively as if they were working in the physical world. And when people forget about technology, it’s thanks to the design of the software”.
An immediate success with Business Units
Today, the PSA Group creates more than twenty new iObeya rooms every week, proof of the success of iObeya in the Business Units. “It is possible to interact with other members of a project from anywhere, at any time,” explains Eric Faure, Information System Quality Specialist.
Christophe Verrier, Sales Manager France for Peugeot Automotive continues, “Some vehicles sell better in a given geographic area than others. The fact that we can discuss these issues visually rather than on the phone allows us to better adjust our sales efforts.”
iObeya has brought an immediate return on investment thanks to the optimization of travel and space savings, while respecting data security and confidentiality requirements. The solution facilitates a strong sense of collaboration and more participative work environment with consistent feedback loops.
Three tips to get started while deploying iObeya :
“To drive adoption, you absolutely need to keep it simple. First you start with Oobeyas at the top of the management pyramid. Those will quickly spread throughout the teams, thanks to the hierarchy guidelines”, Jean-Pierre Dumoulin, Chief Technology Officer.
“Today, we can’t imagine working without this tool because it gives us a real edge over our competitors in terms of visual management practices”, Jean-Pierre Dumoulin.
“We will integrate the iObeya Digital Visual Management platform into the Group’s standards. When PSA renovates a meeting room facility, the iObeya solution associated with SMART interactive whiteboards is systematically put forward and implemented”, Bernard Cohen, IT Innovation Manager.
We were able to demonstrate that the project was profitable in less than six months, due primarily to saved physical space. Our teams have also become more efficient and productive. For example, we have reduced the length of our board meeting by 50%. Personally, I am a big fan of iObeya.
Jean-Pierre Dumoulin, Chief Technology Officer, PSA Group
