How do you train your workforce for lean excellence?

1 Identify your goals and gaps

The first step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to identify your current state and your desired future state. What are the main problems or challenges that you want to solve with lean? What are the benefits and outcomes that you expect from lean? How do you measure your performance and progress? You need to have a clear vision and a realistic assessment of your situation before you can design and implement a lean training program.

2 Engage and empower your employees

The second step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to engage and empower your employees. Lean is not a top-down approach that imposes changes and rules on the workers. Lean is a bottom-up approach that involves and respects the workers as the experts and the owners of their processes. You need to communicate the purpose and the benefits of lean, solicit feedback and suggestions, and encourage participation and collaboration. You also need to empower your employees to make decisions, solve problems, and implement improvements.

3 Provide relevant and practical training

The third step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to provide relevant and practical training. Lean is not a theoretical or abstract concept that can be learned from books or lectures. Lean is a practical and experiential method that can be learned from doing and observing. You need to provide training that is tailored to your specific context, needs, and goals. You also need to provide training that is hands-on, interactive, and fun. You can use tools such as simulations, games, case studies, and projects to teach and practice lean principles and techniques.

4 Implement and sustain improvements

The fourth step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to implement and sustain improvements. Lean is not a one-time event or a quick fix. Lean is a continuous and iterative process that requires constant monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment. You need to implement the improvements that you have identified and tested, and measure their impact and results. You also need to sustain the improvements by standardizing, documenting, and auditing the new processes. You need to create a feedback loop that allows you to learn from your successes and failures, and to identify new opportunities for improvement.

5 Recognize and reward your employees

The fifth step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to recognize and reward your employees. Lean is not a punitive or coercive system that forces or bribes the workers to comply. Lean is a motivational and inspirational system that celebrates and appreciates the workers for their contributions and achievements. You need to recognize and reward your employees for their efforts, ideas, and results. You can use various forms of recognition and reward, such as verbal praise, certificates, badges, bonuses, or promotions.

6 Foster a lean culture and mindset

The sixth and final step to train your workforce for lean excellence is to foster a lean culture and mindset. Lean is not a set of tools or techniques that can be applied mechanically or superficially. Lean is a way of thinking and behaving that can be ingrained and internalized. You need to foster a lean culture and mindset that values customer satisfaction, quality, efficiency, innovation, and teamwork. You need to model and promote the lean values and behaviors, and create a supportive and conducive environment for lean learning and improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?