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Originally Posted by DGornick
We are approximately 3 months into our lean transformation process. 5S has moved to sustain phase in many production areas, TPM meetings are underway, several Kaizen events have been completed (with moderate success), etc. However, the biggest problem we have is buy-in and team building. Is there any resource (or wisedom) you can share to assist us with this crucial aspect of our lean efforts. Negative attitudes have successfully blunted many initiatives due to extreme resistance to change. Thanks in advance...
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Douglas,
Thank you for your participation in the forum. You mentioned that your company has 5S and TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) programs underway and that you have held several Kaizen (continuous improvement) events. Forum members could benefit greatly from hearing more about your experiences. Would you mind describing your efforts in a little more detail? What are your objectives for your 5S and TPM programs? Where did you start with these programs. What areas or processes did you target for your Kaizen events? Why were those areas or processes chosen? What are the results so far?
With respect to your question about achieving buy-in, I would start by saying that change management is a topic unto itself. However, it's clear that there are at least two prerequisites for a successful lean transformation. First, senior company leaders must actively support the lean effort and make it a high company priority. And second, those senior leaders must articulate a compelling reason for making the lean transformation that everyone in the company can understand. It's also important to emphasize with employees that lean is not a codeword for reducing headcount. Few employees will be interested in making improvements that will result in job loss.
Thank you again for your participation in the forum.
