The Dark Side of Lean Management
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There is a dark side of lean management. Although the benefits of it are enormous, the failure rate for lean programs can be very discouraging.
After recently attending a lean management conference, I learned that its failure rate is around 90% or higher. I must say, I was shocked hearing those numbers!
However, I understand. It takes years for some to implement a lean culture, and without the right training and tools, systems FAIL. But our business teaches business owners how to sustain lean, and how to install lean control in a matter of months rather than years!
When we started systemizing our business back in 1994, lean's system for business housekeeping was not yet popular. However, it was introduced to world in the 1970s.
The 100% System of Cleanliness = 5-S Lean Management
Even though our company had successfully implemented and sustained a quality control system for years, we needed a system for housekeeping to keep our print facility clean and clutter-free. But the system to keep a dirty print show clean would be a challenge.
Therefore, I set out to design a system called, The 100% System of Cleanliness, chronicled in my book, "System Busters: How to Stop Them in Your Business". This step-by-step processes can help not only implement this new cleaning system, but also sustain it.
The Bright Side of How to Sustain Lean
We've learned that without a system for follow-up, you can't ensure correct performance of ANY process or system. Without that system, ALL systems and collapse and go back to the way they were.
We've proven that lean works by measuring. As a result, we can sustain lean day after day, month after month, for over 15 years, or until you sell the business.
In a video, you can find what lean management looks like properly implemented, and you can learn more about why developing well-designed systems can lead to maintaining and sustaining ALL business systems.
Take our LEAN TOUR to the bright side of Lean.
Did I mention? Great systems work!
Philip Beyer, founder/president of Ebiz Products LLC and founder of Beyer Printing Inc. in Nashville Tenn., is a chronic entrepreneur, business systems analyst and consultant. Author of "System Busters: How to Stop Them in Your Business" and recipient of an InterTech Technology Award for the design and development of System100 business process management software. Beyer speaks to business owners across the country on how to bring lean, sustainable order to their businesses. Contact him at (615) 425-2652.
