Lean Management for Lean Leadership
Lean Management Systems to grow Lean Leadership and instill a Lean Culture
What is lean culture? Lean culture is when continuous improvement is done with people, not to people. There are 3 primary cultural enablers:
What's the difference between lean management and lean culture? Lean culture is the sum of its individuals' habits Lean management is a systematic way to shape those habits What's the difference between lean management and traditional mgmt? There are many differences between a lean system and a batch & queue system,
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Process Improvement Teams
Popular ways to organize your process improvement teams
1) Daily Accountability Teams
One of the most noticeable differences between a new vs. a mature lean organization is the percent of improvements generated by their Daily Accountability Teams.
In a mature lean organization:
Any improvements that are within the control of a single team should be routinely and systematically be found and improved by that team.
Every team member not only knows which tools to use to solve diverse problems, but also understands the underlying lean principles, and comes up with creative ways to apply them to unique challenges.
A much larger percentage of ideas for cross-team improvements are generated and trickled up from the Daily Accountability Teams
All other types of teams are needed only for processes that cross team boundaries.
In a less mature organization:
Opportunities for improvement come much more frequently from lean leadership or "outside eyes" that have become more adept at learning to see opportunities to eliminate waste -
and therefore each of the following types of cross-functional teams have even greater importance in the early stages of an organization's lean journey.
2) Kaizen Events
A Kaizen Event is one popular way to achieve dramatic process improvements in a very short time (less than a week), by sequestering a team of representatives for all process stakeholders - who then focus 100% of their effort to perform an intense burst of improvement.
3) A3 Problem Solving
The A3 Problem Solving Method can be done by sequestering the team (similar to a kaizen event), or (more commonly), can be led by a champion who meets with individuals and small groups of stakeholders on a more flexible time schedule.
A3 Problem Solving is a flexible, time-effective, and popular way to organize a cross-functional improvement effort - often without the need to form a team.
It is a simple, (easily-duplicated and managed) method to systematically:
- Define and solve problems
- Teach managers how to better coach, mentor, and lead
- Instill lean thinking as a cultural habit
4) 8D Problem Solving
The 8D Problem Solving Method provides a systematic way for a team to resolve an issue that has uncertain root causes - in a way that ensures that root causes have been identified and verified - and that both interim and permanent corrective actions are validated for effectiveness and instituted in a way that prevents a similar situation from ever recurring or escaping again.
8D is most often used in conjunction with Corrective Action Reports - if (and only if) the root cause is uncertain. Other problem methods are more appropriate if the focus is only upon decision making or problem prevention.
5) Chartered Six Sigma Teams
Another approach to solving a problem that has uncertain root causes is to charter a Six Sigma Team -
to Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and then Control the improved process - usually using statistical analysis and data-gathering techniques that are appropriate for more mature organizations that have already "picked the low-hanging fruit" by using simpler lean methods.6) Project Management Teams for Process Improvement
Almost every leader is familiar with a Gantt Chart and other types of Project Management tools.
Too familiar perhaps... because these 1950's approaches to team organization are only appropriate for large, complex projects - like:
- Moving facilities or opening a new location
- Business Process Reengineering
- ERP Software Project Teams
- QFD Teams
For most lean implementation missions, there are usually better approaches.
7) Value Stream Teams
All of the above types of teams put the cart before the horse if the mission of the team was not first chartered by the Value Stream Team.
The purpose of a Value Stream Team is to identify which priorities will yield the most value to the flow of value through the entire value stream - not just some sub-optimized sub-set of it.
8) Hoshin Policy Deployment Teams
The purpose of Hoshin Policy Deployment Teams is to ensure that every team in the entire organization is optimizing their efforts to support a synergistic Strategic Plan.
Different Hoshin Teams might use any or all of the various problem solving tools and methods - at different times and for different purposes.
Kaizen Event training videos
Lean Leadership
Higher level leadership - to support the Team Leaders for ALL types of Process Improvement Teams
Word templates to define YOUR Team Roles Your Systems2win continuous improvement templates include several Word templates And then your personalized PDF's are then distributed the same way that you store and distribute all of your company’s policies (as defined in the Storage and Naming Policies PDF in your portal).
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Refer to the Continuous Improvement Leadership Roles template for
leadership team names, role titles, ideal profiles, and performance evaluation criteria for
the teams and roles that support all of your other types of Process ImprovementTeams:
- Continuous Improvement Leadership Team
- Continuous Improvement Steering Committee
- Continuous improvement responsibilities of your company's Executive Team
- Executive Sponsor / Change Agent
- Highest Ranking Executive Officer
Bookmark = System
Lean Management System
Every element of every lean production system should be simultaneously implemented with a corresponding lean management system to support and sustain it.
Most of your improvements (over half) should originate from your Lean Management System -
which are the routine daily systems used to effectively manage your Daily Accountabilty Teams.
Every person in your company is the member of at least one, and often several teams.
And every team is systematically held accountable for demonstrating process improvement effort and results
on a routine basis (often daily).
Visual Management Systems For every one of the types of CI teams (above) - one of the required outcomes must be for that team to establish excellent Visual Management Systems - so that with one quick glance, any third-grade visitor can know whether or not every process is or is not achieving its objectives. |
Lean Assessment template
to assess the progress of your change initiatives
- Easy-to-understand-at-a-glance trend charts, themometer charts,
and radar chart- Easily personalized with your own assessment criteria
- Completed by all levels of leadership on a periodic basis
- 5-minute review serves as terrific mental preparation
for your weekly gemba walk
Before & After StoryboardOne Good Idea - Before & After Storyboard
Lean storyboard, Six Sigma story board
- Extremely easy to use
- Very motivating
- Each team maintains a 3 ring binder of implemented ideas
- Publish on your Team Accountability Board - and other bulletin boards
Leader Standard Work templates
for your Team Leaders, Department Supervisors, Value Stream Managers, and top-level Executives
Leader Standard Work
template
- Standard work is the cornerstone of every lean production system,
and should also be the cornerstone of every lean management system- Lean leadership checklists should be carried and followed for a large percentage of lean management tasks:
- Team Leaders - 80% of their time should be devoted to completing leader standard work
- Department Supervisors - 50%
- Value Stream Managers - 25%
- Executives - 10%
(These percentages are lower in a lean healthcare or lean office environment,
but the fundamentals of the underlying lean management system are the same)Continuous Improvement Leadership tools
Each of the 4 bundles of templates include their own subset of lean leadership tools...
fill-in-the-blanks templates with step-by-step online training
for the types of continuous improvement projects typically encountered on your lean journey
- Full suite of tools for lean standard work
- Standard Work Audit
- 5S Checklist
- Gemba Interview
- Full suite of lean training tools
- Full suite of tools to plan and implement a kaizen event
- Full suite of tools for A3 problem solving
- Full suite of tools for value stream mapping
- A partial suite of lean six sigma tools
(with some eye-popping templates to supplement what your statistics software doesn't do)- Multi-User Setup Checklist
to get off to a great start when you first install or upgrade- Full suite of tools and online training to shape the habits of your lean leaders
to systematically achieve that popular but slippery goal - to institute a lean culture
What drives cultural change? Expectations for clearly defined behavior, and consistently applied processes for supporting it. Every element of any lean production system must have a corresponding lean management system element to support it. "If I had to choose between lean training for a new recruit to lead a lean area or providing him or her with a copy of clearly written standard work, I would choose standard work every time." David Mann ~ Author of Creating a Lean Culture |
Bookmark = elements
What are the essential elements of a lean management system?
- Visual Controls are the most obvious clue to look for. Visual management systems stand out, are an essential component of any lean system, and are supposed to be implemented as the very first element of any lean management system.
- Routine Accountability Habits include frequent gemba walks, and multi-tiered daily stand-up meetings, where the visual Team Accountability Board serves as the meeting place, agenda, and progress report.
- Leader Standard Work checklists are carried and followed by Team Leaders, Department Supervisors, Value Stream Managers, and even top-level executives - as a way to systematically get above-average results from average managers. See Leader Standard Work template.
Bookmark = Accountability
Routine Accountability Habits
Lean Management systems to instill Lean Culture habits
Gemba Walk
Go to the place, look at the process, talk with the people
The primary purpose of gemba walking is to teach Yes, there are many other benefits:
But the overwhelming primary purpose of a gemba walk is to teach. |
When you are the gemba walker, you are playing the role of sensei (mentor, coach, teacher).
A gemba walk is a master-disciple, teacher-student form of learning -
where your goal as sensei is to ask questions (fighting your strong impulse to just tell them what to do)
that cause your student to see things differently,
to look at a process that may be many years familiar to them,
and to see it fresh and anew with "kaizen eyes",
suddenly seeing waste that has always been there, but suddenly becomes visible in an "aha" moment.
"Aha" moments only happen when a student is actively thinking,
not just receiving information.
And the best way to trigger thinking is to ask questions.
Questions designed to cause the learner to see waste that they never noticed before,
and questions designed to stimulate the learner to creatively apply lean tools, methods, and teachings
in creative, improvised ways that fit the needs of this unique situation.
Each unique situation almost always requires some invention and adaptation of lean principles.
In the real world, it is rare to be able to apply a tool or method in the exact same form that it was introduced in a book, or even in a Systems2win template. That's one reason that your Systems2win templates are written using Microsoft Word and Excel - so that it is easy to personalize them for your unique situations that you encounter on your lean journey.
The role of the sensei is to ask questions, introduce new tools and approaches, stimulate new thinking, teach, and (sparingly) to give advice... but the student should always be responsible for making all decisions. The only decision that the sensei makes is whether to continue working with the student - based on their follow through to commitments.
The primary benefit of this socratic method of asking questions (instead of just telling answers) is that the student learns much more thoroughly. Thoroughly enough to soon start doing their own gemba walks with their own subordinates, with your student slowly but surely evolving into their own incarnation of master sensei.
The primary challenge of this gemba walk method of learning is that it is slow. It requires patience.
To be most effective, gemba walking should start from the top down. Gemba walking should ideally start with a very experienced consultant serving as the sensei for your President and executive-level Change Agent. Just seeing your top-level leaders out there on the production floor on a weekly basis will do wonders to deliver the message to everyone in the company that "this change initiative is different".
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Let the boss be the By nature, senior-level executives are far more comfortable in the role of leader, rather than learner. So rather than putting them in the position of being a "student" right there in front of the people they manage, it a much better idea for the consultant sensei to serve as a tactful mentor - |
Using the Lean Assessment template
for gemba walk preparation
Yes, consulting time can get expensive,
and yes, most executives are quick learners
that will be very motivated to do some self-study so that they can quickly be as competent and comfortable as possible with this new highly visible role.
That's where the Systems2win Lean Assessment template is so valuable...
A quick 5-minute review of these lean performance evaluation criteria will quickly refresh the executive's mind with the things to look for and questions to ask on their upcoming gemba walk.
The purpose of a gemba walk is to observe what is actually happening at the place where the work is being done,
and to mentor by asking questions and perhaps introducing or reminding of potentially helpful lean tools and teachings.
Rather than entering data into the form after each gemba walk,
and rather than bringing a printed copy of this Assessment on gemba walks, we suggest instead to simply...
spend a few minutes reviewing this Assessment form prior to each gemba walk
as an excellent way to prepare yourself mentally.
A Routine Accountability Habit
Each leader's standard work should include periodic audits - using audit checklists to remind them of what to always look for, and to provide a written archive record that can be analyzed for trends.
Audit checklists can be created for anything that significantly influences the effectiveness of any process.
Popular audit checklists include the Standard Work Audit, the Lean Assessment Audit, and the 5S Scorecard.
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How do you get diverse people to assess audit questions using consistent criteria?
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A Routine Accountability Habit
The Systems2win Leader Standard Work template includes detailed suggestions for how to structure 4 tiers of routinely-scheduled stand up meetings - usually held in front of the team's Team Accountability Board.
- Team Leader with production team members
- Department Supervisor with Team Leaders
- Value Stream Manager with Supervisors and support resources
- Executive or Plant Manager with Supervisors and Value Stream Managers
Leader Standard Work
A Routine Accountability Habit
Leader Standard Work checklists are carried and followed by every Team Leader, Department Supervisor, Value Stream Manager, and top-level executive - as a way to systematically get above-average results from average people.
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Truth in humor See our short article on Getting Team Members to Do What You Want:
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Bookmark = Training
Lean Management TrainingMore training for lean managementThe Sample and Help worksheets of every template always contain training relevant to THAT template
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Intro to Systems2win templates Make sure your sound is on
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Bookmark = Reading
Suggested Reading and Resources
If you appreciate our free on-line training, you can support us by buying your books through these links to Amazon.com
These lean management templates are part of the Kaizen Lean Leadership bundle of templates, which also includes leader standard work, kaizen tools, project management tools, |
