Sometimes the words or terminologies used in management seems to be complex. However, once you start reading, learning (off course with curiosity) about them make you feel, oh! , so this is what it is. This happens when you co-relate your experience with the methodology described and you find so many instances where you find similarities.
Similar thing happened to me, when after spending 20-22 years in manufacturing, opportunity came to learn “Lean Management”. Luckily, the person with teaching assignment was a live wire and man of few words. However, the few words, which he expressed, were impactful.
You will also agree, whether you are from manufacturing, service industry, finance or HR field or any other field. Don’t you think of increasing efficiency? Alternatively, avoiding or minimizing wastage of resources (money, material, utilities etc.)? Then you are already thinking and practicing Lean. May be, you are not aware about Gemba, 5Why, Kaizen, Poka Yoke like techniques , but you may be following those principles.
If I guess correctly, you have a question. Am I right? Your question is what I will lose if I do not learn the techniques. Nothing, you will lose nothing, but if you learn them, it will facilitate structured approach for solving issues and problems, which any way you are solving in your own way.
The Lean as I understood is simple. Of course, I am sure you already have problem in hand which needed attention. In reality, Thinking Lean is forced by internal factors like too many break downs, too many quality issues or too much of lost time due to accident hours ( Oh god, again I am giving examples which are typical manufacturing) or larger issues of account receivables or payables beyond certain limits, (I see a happy face of finance person) etc.
In certain cases or (you are the best judge) in most of the cases, external factors like competition, cost pressure or compliance and regulatory requirements may also force us to think lean.
Put it in simple terms, if you have a problem area identified then:
- You should have a team with Learning ability, Enthusiasm, Active listening skill, Networking skill
- You should look for resources, which are Limited, Efficient, Appropriate & Necessary
- Your Teams thinking should be Lateral, Experiential, Adroit & Novel
- Your Management should be Longsighted, Encouraging, Accessible and Nurturing
- In addition, do watch and avoid behaviours, which are Lethargic, Egoistic, Arrogant & Negative
Hope you will be excited to learn more about lean.
