Contrary to the experience of many organizations, lean doesn’t have to add burdensome overhead.
The odds of success improve greatly when a tightly targeted program takes aim at specific processes, lines, or workflows and is implemented by teams that hold each member accountable for results.
A localized approach focuses on specific opportunities selected for their potential to generate a significant financial payback over a short time frame.
A company that defines success by metrics like the extent of a program’s implementation will develop a bureaucratic culture focused on checking the box rather than achieving specific results. A program that asks its people to measure production and financial impacts will yield a culture focused on achieving material financial improvement.