Many organizations start the LEAN journey. Some are very successful, others start the journey enthusiastically but fizzle out and others never even get going, despite large investment in resources both in financial and human resources.
What differentiates these organizations? What can you do to ensure the success?
LEAN is not another new initiative. It is not something that will take 18 – 24 months then it’s over. It’s not flavour of the month. It will not go away. It’s not a management initiative that staff tolerate because they know management’s attention will be shifted away at the next crisis.
LEAN is the new way of doing business. It is a philosophy that will refocus your efforts to serving the customer, eliminating waste and driving profits upward. It accomplishes this by focusing on measurable results on a daily basis, key performance indicators based on listening to the voice of the customer and alignment to,the strategic plan.
As with any initiative, it must have the support of the senior leadership team. The entire team needs to be committed to becoming LEAN. Senior leadership must hold department directors and managers accountable for results. Managers in turn must engage and empower staff to actively participate in the process and hold them accountable for results. In this way with everyone in the organization held accountable for setting goals and working towards their goals, success is inevitable.
Is this easy? As John F Kennedy said at Rice University on Sept 12, 1962, ” ..and do other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win..”
Do you, as a leader, have a vision for your organization to be the leader in your field? Do you and your senior leadership team have to he drive and commitment to make your vision a reality? If so, LEAN is the process that will transform your organization for what it is today to the industry leader it will be tomorrow.