SNIPS Article: All systems go

Aligning your processes for lean initiatives

A recap of Snips’ series on lean manufacturing: In the March issue, the importance of creating a whole lean company — not just implementing a few tools — was discussed.

In the May issue, the topic was how to develop a lean-education system.

In August it was lean measurement. It’s now time to address the systems and processes that need to align with your lean implementation strategy.

Disconnects between where you want to go — lean — and the internal “structures,” such as systems, policies, procedures and processes will sink your lean initiative and any success will be very short lived.

Lean thinking is a behavioral change for a company and the company’s culture is influenced and dictated by its systems and polices.

Consider:

Water what you want to grow.

If you live in the desert, to grow anything green or colorful you must water it very frequently. The same goes for companies with behaviors leaders want to change or maintain. You must encourage the behaviors you want to flourish and weed out the undesired ones. For example, if you want the key lean attribute Red more