Creating a Lean Culture: ‘How’ and ‘why’ are more powerful than ‘what’

When we examine the nature of our daily activities and how we align these with our values, corporate goals and relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), how do we ensure that as a business we are pursuing continuous improvement?

Culture is by definition “the social behavior and norms found in human societies or groups” and thus to change, embed and sustain a Lean culture within any business requires that everyone understands, lives and breathes Lean.

Consequently, effective Lean transformations must start by identifying Lean leaders and experts who can positively drive Lean principles and then empowering those leaders to implement rapid changes. If progressively, we then give everyone within our organization the Lean methodology, understanding and tools they need, we can embed and sustain something ‘new’ – a true Lean culture.

Training and Development:

It is through effective Training & Development that we keep everyone moving forward – focused on the ‘why and how’ of Lean – e.g., eliminating waste, embracing innovation.

It is critical that everyone understands why the responsibility for driving a consistent message and the sustainability of a Lean culture starts with managers and team leaders.

But how do you embed and sustain ‘Lean’ effectively when only a handful of people in your business are Lean aware?

Such change can only happen effectively if the ‘new’ is reinforced (new thinking, working processes, systems etc.) with the ‘how’ and ‘why’ by addressing attitudes, values and mind-sets.

This is the only way to truly change, embed and sustain.