A focused analysis on lean fire management systems

Abstract

A primary role of the Incident Command System (ICS) is to learn from past incidents, particularly in the case of wildland fires. As such, a successful ICS application is critically dependent on its capability to function as a learning organization in order to continuously improve emergency response effectiveness. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential to apply fundamental principles of the Toyota Production System (Lean manufacturing) to improve the learning effectiveness within the ICS. An in-depth review of literature and training documents regarding both systems reveals common goals and functional similarities, including the importance of continuous improvement. These similarities point to the validity of applying Lean principles to the ICS. Subsequently, a focus on systematic problem solving and the learning function of the ICS culminated in the discovery of gaps between the two systems. Finally, recommendations are made that the application of systematic problem solving including rigorous root cause analysis and effective standardization of successful problem solving countermeasures could be adapted from Lean principles in order to benefit the system.