Let's face it, there are some organizations that get it and some that do not. Then we have the hybrid organizations where they state "we are starting on a Lean journey", toss tools at people, bring in a consultant or two, move some dirt around on the floor, put up a white board, establish some half baked metrics, hire the wrong people and bingo.... They are now a Lean company. We have all seen it and we have all read about it and some of us may have even been subject to it. The question is this, "What did you as an individual do?" Did you stay the course? Did you help teach and inspire? Were you inspired? Did you upwardly lead or were you dictated to? What was the outcome of the journey?
Yes the questions arise don't they. You as the lone ranger in a town full of outlaws who only has a handful of allies trying to lead an organization on their Lean journey only to find out the organization decides to abandon the efforts because.... It is too much work. All your efforts and the individuals you have pulled forward coupled with the true advancements you have made are perceived as failure by you due to a shift in leadership, it happens.
What we as Lean individuals have to remember is this, resilience. Though the organization may have shifted and decisions are out of your direct control you have options and possibilities as Yoda tells me. Seeking a new organization to practice in is a an option and possibility, teaching those in different areas of the organization, breaking more silos within the same organization or changing organizations entirely to one that is a better fit.
Riding for a brand that understands the People, Process, Culture piece is a wonderful thing to have as a base from which one can practice Lean. We ride up on our horse and loping cowboy strolls in smiling and is greeted by smiles and willing minds that ask questions. We as teachers and practitioners have an obligation to teach. Yet on the same coin, as teachers we are also students. The learning collective as their isn't always a true absolute in manufacturing, as I've found out the hard way on my journey.
What I'm learning on this lifelong trail is this. There are organizations out there that welcome Lean inside their walls and truly embrace the lifestyle that it is. They care about their workforce and it shows. They have true employee engagement, and the employees are proud to ride for that brand. There are organizations that say they want it, yet do not want to slow down to speed up. They are "too busy" to improve and stifle the voices of those who question the respect for people piece of the equation. Then there are those who pick and choose tools, roll those tools and give them to the untrained workforce while management is befuddled as to why it doesn't work. Yet management won't goto Gemba and truly ask "Why?".
The Range on which we ride is a huge with a vast expanse of landscapes we will encounter. Hardship and victory along with defeat and frustration. Yet, what separates the seasoned cowboy from the city slicker dude who is all hat and no cattle is this. We stay the course...rain, snow sleet, hail. We continue to learn and PDCA our skills to help bring others forward.
In closing I'd like to thank everyone for dropping by the campfire. I know it has been quite some time since I've picked up the scribe and transposed thoughts and action to paper, yet there are times when we must slow down to speed up. The Lean Cowboy was not gone, I was in the adjustment phase moving the standard wedge on the improvement wheel.
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