Lean Confusion? You can say that again
Recently Industry Week published an article called Lean Confusion. In it was the following data from their surveys:
What really shocks me is that 25 percent of companies feel that their lean journey is “complete”.
How is this possible? Here’s my real struggle with this idea. If they have gotten far enough down the lean journey to even consider the question of complete, how have they not learned that lean is a ongoing journey that never ends?
I am also curious how zero percent of companies claim to have no implementation. This is not at all consistent with my own data. I would think that their net is broader than mine.
There is lean confusion, but now I’m confused. Anyone have any thoughts as to what this data tells us?
This data is just a fancy statistic from the IW…
There is no connection to the reality, in my opinion, because, as you have rightly said, there is no completion to the lean journey, and who consider it that way should find some better sensei…
The 0% with no implemetation is also only a wishful thinking, as we all know it is not true…
Probably the folks at IW have submitted some kind of survey to the participants with some questions like “Do you clean your plant daily?” or something similar and then said that the answer to this question indicates that the company does 5S. And similar other questions, just calling for the application of tools and not the THINKING and IMPROVEMENT part of lean…
This data is just a fancy statistic from the IW…
There is no connection to the reality, in my opinion, because, as you have rightly said, there is no completion to the lean journey, and who consider it that way should find some better sensei…
The 0% with no implemetation is also only a wishful thinking, as we all know it is not true…
Probably the folks at IW have submitted some kind of survey to the participants with some questions like “Do you clean your plant daily?” or something similar and then said that the answer to this question indicates that the company does 5S. And similar other questions, just calling for the application of tools and not the THINKING and IMPROVEMENT part of lean…
This data is just a fancy statistic from the IW…
There is no connection to the reality, in my opinion, because, as you have rightly said, there is no completion to the lean journey, and who consider it that way should find some better sensei…
The 0% with no implemetation is also only a wishful thinking, as we all know it is not true…
Probably the folks at IW have submitted some kind of survey to the participants with some questions like “Do you clean your plant daily?” or something similar and then said that the answer to this question indicates that the company does 5S. And similar other questions, just calling for the application of tools and not the THINKING and IMPROVEMENT part of lean…
Do you know any perfect people? Do you know any perfect organizations?
Yeah, me neither.
Apparently, these 25% believe they are.
Do you know any perfect people? Do you know any perfect organizations?
Yeah, me neither.
Apparently, these 25% believe they are.
Do you know any perfect people? Do you know any perfect organizations?
Yeah, me neither.
Apparently, these 25% believe they are.
This reminds me of a survey a few years ago where they asked everyone to rate themselves in their filed of discipline. Needless to say, it was significantly unbalanced towards the high side. There was not very many average people out there.
I have started questioning Industry Week’s survey methods. Last week they published that 69% of manufacturing companies were participating in Lean. 69% seemed like a pretty high number to me. However, digging deeper they said that Six Sigma was the 2nd most popular Lean implementation tool, 5S being the first. Huh?
I have to agree with Dragan. I think they did a survey and started re=purposing the material. IW should take notice, I give our manufacturers more credit than this!
This reminds me of a survey a few years ago where they asked everyone to rate themselves in their filed of discipline. Needless to say, it was significantly unbalanced towards the high side. There was not very many average people out there.
I have started questioning Industry Week’s survey methods. Last week they published that 69% of manufacturing companies were participating in Lean. 69% seemed like a pretty high number to me. However, digging deeper they said that Six Sigma was the 2nd most popular Lean implementation tool, 5S being the first. Huh?
I have to agree with Dragan. I think they did a survey and started re=purposing the material. IW should take notice, I give our manufacturers more credit than this!
This reminds me of a survey a few years ago where they asked everyone to rate themselves in their filed of discipline. Needless to say, it was significantly unbalanced towards the high side. There was not very many average people out there.
I have started questioning Industry Week’s survey methods. Last week they published that 69% of manufacturing companies were participating in Lean. 69% seemed like a pretty high number to me. However, digging deeper they said that Six Sigma was the 2nd most popular Lean implementation tool, 5S being the first. Huh?
I have to agree with Dragan. I think they did a survey and started re=purposing the material. IW should take notice, I give our manufacturers more credit than this!
The fact that IW even offers the “Complete” option is mid boggling. Maybe they’re being ironic? Somehow I think not. And what’s the sample size?
The fact that IW even offers the “Complete” option is mid boggling. Maybe they’re being ironic? Somehow I think not. And what’s the sample size?
The fact that IW even offers the “Complete” option is mid boggling. Maybe they’re being ironic? Somehow I think not. And what’s the sample size?
I am thinking prehaps the question was in regards the implementation of a lean program and prehaps not the actual lean journey itself….well I am hoping ..:)
I am thinking prehaps the question was in regards the implementation of a lean program and prehaps not the actual lean journey itself….well I am hoping ..:)
I am thinking prehaps the question was in regards the implementation of a lean program and prehaps not the actual lean journey itself….well I am hoping ..:)
What it tells me is that of the IW’s 2009 Best Plants (whoever they are), 25% assume they have reached some level of complacency in their understanding and thinking. Guess the 25% will eventually trade Lean in for some other growth/strategy thinking….
I believe this study/chart highlights the title of the Article…Confusion! I am assuming this is a self rating, it would be interesting to see what the gemba actually yields.
What it tells me is that of the IW’s 2009 Best Plants (whoever they are), 25% assume they have reached some level of complacency in their understanding and thinking. Guess the 25% will eventually trade Lean in for some other growth/strategy thinking….
I believe this study/chart highlights the title of the Article…Confusion! I am assuming this is a self rating, it would be interesting to see what the gemba actually yields.
What it tells me is that of the IW’s 2009 Best Plants (whoever they are), 25% assume they have reached some level of complacency in their understanding and thinking. Guess the 25% will eventually trade Lean in for some other growth/strategy thinking….
I believe this study/chart highlights the title of the Article…Confusion! I am assuming this is a self rating, it would be interesting to see what the gemba actually yields.
Oh that’s a really simple question !
Analogy:
If you were at dinner with my wife and I and you asked me how happy I was, what do you think I’d say? And then if you asked me how much I loved my wife, what do you think I’d say?
However, if you were my personal therapist and I came to you with a marital problem, how different would my answers be?
Oh that’s a really simple question !
Analogy:
If you were at dinner with my wife and I and you asked me how happy I was, what do you think I’d say? And then if you asked me how much I loved my wife, what do you think I’d say?
However, if you were my personal therapist and I came to you with a marital problem, how different would my answers be?
Oh that’s a really simple question !
Analogy:
If you were at dinner with my wife and I and you asked me how happy I was, what do you think I’d say? And then if you asked me how much I loved my wife, what do you think I’d say?
However, if you were my personal therapist and I came to you with a marital problem, how different would my answers be?
I’m weighing in to clarify some of the data about which you speak, and also to offer my own interpretation. I’m the coordinator of the IndustryWeek Best Plants competition, from which the data is taken.
First, the data is from our IW Best Plants competition finalists and winners, and the question is asked precisely as Jamie provided. In my mind, “complete” does not imply that they have finished lean, because those who answer “complete,” — as well as those answering “significant” for that matter — go on to say that lean efforts never end, it’s a continuing journey. What I believe most of them mean when they say “complete” is that they have introduced lean to all areas of their manufacturing operations, at least at the plant level.
This question is one in an application that also asks a significant amount of “essay” type of questions to help flesh out the above-type “fill in the blank” questions, so I have a little more information than what is shown in that one chart.
The Best Plants competition is an annual event that seeks to annually find the Best Plants in North America. The facilities that apply typically have been making real efforts at continually improving their operations via methods such as lean and others. And they have metrics that show progress. If you’d like to know more about the IW Best Plants program, I encourage you to visit this link: http://www.industryweek.com/research/bestplants/guidelines.aspx.
The goal of the IW Best Plants program is to promote operational excellence and hopefully encourage all manufacturers to strive for excellence. Not a single winner past or present would ever tell you it is as good as it could get, but their efforts and gains are admirable. I am very pleased to part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Getting back to the original point of the Lean Confusion article, however, there is no doubt in my mind that many different definitions of “lean” exist, even among the “lean experts.” And while you may think that doesn’t matter, in some cases I think it hurts the cause of lean.
Finally, it’s a pleasure reading this blog and all of your comments. I, too, am engaged in a continual learning effort, and your feedback is appreciated.
I’m weighing in to clarify some of the data about which you speak, and also to offer my own interpretation. I’m the coordinator of the IndustryWeek Best Plants competition, from which the data is taken.
First, the data is from our IW Best Plants competition finalists and winners, and the question is asked precisely as Jamie provided. In my mind, “complete” does not imply that they have finished lean, because those who answer “complete,” — as well as those answering “significant” for that matter — go on to say that lean efforts never end, it’s a continuing journey. What I believe most of them mean when they say “complete” is that they have introduced lean to all areas of their manufacturing operations, at least at the plant level.
This question is one in an application that also asks a significant amount of “essay” type of questions to help flesh out the above-type “fill in the blank” questions, so I have a little more information than what is shown in that one chart.
The Best Plants competition is an annual event that seeks to annually find the Best Plants in North America. The facilities that apply typically have been making real efforts at continually improving their operations via methods such as lean and others. And they have metrics that show progress. If you’d like to know more about the IW Best Plants program, I encourage you to visit this link: http://www.industryweek.com/research/bestplants/guidelines.aspx.
The goal of the IW Best Plants program is to promote operational excellence and hopefully encourage all manufacturers to strive for excellence. Not a single winner past or present would ever tell you it is as good as it could get, but their efforts and gains are admirable. I am very pleased to part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Getting back to the original point of the Lean Confusion article, however, there is no doubt in my mind that many different definitions of “lean” exist, even among the “lean experts.” And while you may think that doesn’t matter, in some cases I think it hurts the cause of lean.
Finally, it’s a pleasure reading this blog and all of your comments. I, too, am engaged in a continual learning effort, and your feedback is appreciated.
I’m weighing in to clarify some of the data about which you speak, and also to offer my own interpretation. I’m the coordinator of the IndustryWeek Best Plants competition, from which the data is taken.
First, the data is from our IW Best Plants competition finalists and winners, and the question is asked precisely as Jamie provided. In my mind, “complete” does not imply that they have finished lean, because those who answer “complete,” — as well as those answering “significant” for that matter — go on to say that lean efforts never end, it’s a continuing journey. What I believe most of them mean when they say “complete” is that they have introduced lean to all areas of their manufacturing operations, at least at the plant level.
This question is one in an application that also asks a significant amount of “essay” type of questions to help flesh out the above-type “fill in the blank” questions, so I have a little more information than what is shown in that one chart.
The Best Plants competition is an annual event that seeks to annually find the Best Plants in North America. The facilities that apply typically have been making real efforts at continually improving their operations via methods such as lean and others. And they have metrics that show progress. If you’d like to know more about the IW Best Plants program, I encourage you to visit this link: http://www.industryweek.com/research/bestplants/guidelines.aspx.
The goal of the IW Best Plants program is to promote operational excellence and hopefully encourage all manufacturers to strive for excellence. Not a single winner past or present would ever tell you it is as good as it could get, but their efforts and gains are admirable. I am very pleased to part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Getting back to the original point of the Lean Confusion article, however, there is no doubt in my mind that many different definitions of “lean” exist, even among the “lean experts.” And while you may think that doesn’t matter, in some cases I think it hurts the cause of lean.
Finally, it’s a pleasure reading this blog and all of your comments. I, too, am engaged in a continual learning effort, and your feedback is appreciated.
Oops. I missed a word in one of my above sentences. I meant to say:
I am very pleased to BE part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Oops. I missed a word in one of my above sentences. I meant to say:
I am very pleased to BE part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Oops. I missed a word in one of my above sentences. I meant to say:
I am very pleased to BE part of this program and have been able to meet great people and see wonderful plants as a result.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. And thanks for adding your thoughts, Jill.
I believe a lean-thinking organization is naturally much more focused on the gap in front of them than the progress behind them. For every step of progress, we see two more steps of opportunity ahead.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. And thanks for adding your thoughts, Jill.
I believe a lean-thinking organization is naturally much more focused on the gap in front of them than the progress behind them. For every step of progress, we see two more steps of opportunity ahead.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. And thanks for adding your thoughts, Jill.
I believe a lean-thinking organization is naturally much more focused on the gap in front of them than the progress behind them. For every step of progress, we see two more steps of opportunity ahead.
Look no further for an answer than in the opinions offered here. Everyone has a different take, maybe some are pretty close to another, but each person has their own view. No one is wrong but no one is right, either. That’s why their called opinions.
I have to agree with the statement attributed to Art Smalley in the original piece: the definition of Lean is “pretty subjective.” Everyone has a piece of the answer and that piece – that opinion – has been formed and will continue to evolve over time through a combination of education, experience, influence, observation, experimentation, success, and failure. I’m sure that this list is incomplete.
Anyway, that’s my opinion. Thanks for sharing yours. By doing so, you help me to learn.
Look no further for an answer than in the opinions offered here. Everyone has a different take, maybe some are pretty close to another, but each person has their own view. No one is wrong but no one is right, either. That’s why their called opinions.
I have to agree with the statement attributed to Art Smalley in the original piece: the definition of Lean is “pretty subjective.” Everyone has a piece of the answer and that piece – that opinion – has been formed and will continue to evolve over time through a combination of education, experience, influence, observation, experimentation, success, and failure. I’m sure that this list is incomplete.
Anyway, that’s my opinion. Thanks for sharing yours. By doing so, you help me to learn.
Look no further for an answer than in the opinions offered here. Everyone has a different take, maybe some are pretty close to another, but each person has their own view. No one is wrong but no one is right, either. That’s why their called opinions.
I have to agree with the statement attributed to Art Smalley in the original piece: the definition of Lean is “pretty subjective.” Everyone has a piece of the answer and that piece – that opinion – has been formed and will continue to evolve over time through a combination of education, experience, influence, observation, experimentation, success, and failure. I’m sure that this list is incomplete.
Anyway, that’s my opinion. Thanks for sharing yours. By doing so, you help me to learn.
I’m glad IW weighed in with some insight to the article. My first thought was that IW (or at least the author of the article) was jumping on the bandwagon and using industry jargon without fully understanding what it means. However, Jil Jusko seemed to at least have a working knowledge of lean.
I’m glad IW weighed in with some insight to the article. My first thought was that IW (or at least the author of the article) was jumping on the bandwagon and using industry jargon without fully understanding what it means. However, Jil Jusko seemed to at least have a working knowledge of lean.
I’m glad IW weighed in with some insight to the article. My first thought was that IW (or at least the author of the article) was jumping on the bandwagon and using industry jargon without fully understanding what it means. However, Jil Jusko seemed to at least have a working knowledge of lean.