Lean has its origins in Japan, in Toyota's production system; but few people remember the 14 rules from which it all stems, and in particular the first one, which seems to us essential.
- Base your decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals.
- Organise processes in one-piece flow to bring problems to the surface.
- Use pull systems to avoid overproduction.
- Level out the production (Heijunka).
- Create a culture of stopping to fix problems immediately, of getting quality right the first time.
- Standardised tasks are the foundation of continuous improvement and employee empowerment.
- Use visual control so that no problem remains hidden.
- Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technologies that serve your people and your processes
- Develop leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy and teach it to others
- Develop exceptional individuals and teams who follow your company's philosophy.
- Respect your network of partners and suppliers by encouraging them and helping them improve
- Go and see for yourself in the field to thoroughly understand the situation (Genchi Genbutsu).
- Make decisions slowly, by consensus, thoroughly considering all options. Implement decisions rapidly.
- Become a learning organisation through systematic reflection (Hansei) and continuous improvement (Kaizen).
Before any improvement project, it is therefore important to remember that everything starts with the company's long-term strategy. In this period of recovery that we are beginning to glimpse, it is essential not to be lured by fool's gold, but to make the right decisions for the long-term sustainability of your company.
Author
Xavier Schuster
Consultant at SXE Consulting. Industrial consulting firm based in Luxembourg, 25 years of experience in operational excellence.
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