Lean is Inclusive, not Intrusive.

Recently read an article talking about how HR and Lean can "join forces" to change the world.  The article is good, but I think it propagates a fundamental flaw in our thinking about Lean and anything.  Lean isn't something you do on top of your "day job," it's how you do that job.  The problem with sustaining improvement programs is when comments like "I can't run a project, I'm too busy with my regular work" are encountered without immediately coaching that person on using those Lean tools to accomplish their work in a more efficient way. 

We don't have to "join" Lean and anything.  Lean is a toolbox to help us accomplish our goals.  If it's seen as anything else, it's a failure.

What's your latest project?

We all, to some degree, have a project in play.  Redesigning your compensation package?  Putting together a new training program?  Working furiously to meet your budget numbers for the year?  Looking for a new place to peddle your wares?

It's a busy world out there.  What's everyone working on, and what help could you use?

Project Ownership

In the last few weeks we have been busy building out the plans for Kaizens, JDIs and belt projects to reach our cost savings / productivity gain targets. One thing has come to light that I find very disturbing.

Our project champions/sponsors have a number of reasons for failed projects, many of which are due to the belt/team leader moving roles. We tend to nominate high potentials and high performers for the training, but then allow the projects (and therefor the certification efforts) to wither away in favor of "real work" or new positions.

The message for the month, then, is this. Champions own projects. Sponsors own projects. Team leaders and/or belts do not own projects.

We have established metrics on belt utilization levels (how many projects are being completed per belt/candidate per year) and ROI for the program (hard net savings/investment in training). I'm taking it as an action to also start reporting out completion rates for projects by Champion. If the leadership is not engaged in the process, it's all just wasted effort. And we all hate waste.