5 Simple Tips for New Lean Coaches

Lean Manufacturing professionals work very hard to develop their ability to understand the shop floor and devise a plan to improve the conditions and problems that they see.  They spend years learning tools and approaches to solve different business conditions and see themselves eventually being asked to pass that knowledge on to others.  They develop a good understanding of how the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) Problem solving cycle works and can use it to guide themselves through different issues. Unfortunately, there is typically a focus on results and improvement instead of spreading the culture….the skill set to become an effective Lean Coach goes undeveloped.  Solving problems and Coaching others to solve problems are two different skill sets that need to be developed.

Why do Companies Focus on the Lean Tools?…Instead of a Lean Culture?

As a lean consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to walk  the floor of hundreds of companies over the years.  Many of them are either looking to start their lean manufacturing journey, or have already begun.  But in almost all of companies…there is a misunderstanding of the most important aspects of lean manufacturing.  They are typically looking for Lean training, looking to gain some lean tools for their tool box.  The companies are focused on finding the quick fix, the silver bullet that will solve all of their operational issues, and they hope the lean tools are the answer.  But as many of us in the industry already know, the lean tools alone will not solve a companies issues and in most cases will simply fall apart without a greater understanding of the lean management and philosophical side of lean.

Top 4 questions to ask a Lean Manufacturing Consultant or the Lean Consulting Firm you are looking to hire.

There are many Lean manufacturing professionals that have either started working for a consulting company or have ended up as their own version of a management consultant.  The questions are “which Lean Coach will work for me?” and “what does the correct lean consulting help look like?”.

The goal is to create a culture where your entire company can learn to continuously improve their processes.   To improve while receiving the needed lean training and development that allows your company to solve problems and drive your own lean strategy…eventually without the Lean consultant.

Here are a few things to think about when vetting your potential Lean Consultant…

Lean Practitioners should Pay Attention to the Financials

I am a firm believer of a long term approach to all company improvement strategies.  Whether you are using Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma….Theory of Constraints or some other approach, It should be a longer term approach focused on creating a culture that empowers the entire company to improve and solve problems on a daily basis.  I’m not going to debate the “approach”…that was another blog post that you can read here when you feel the desire.  I want to talk about why some short term impact is important and how the company financials should play a part in your work.