Starting a Lean (Operational Excellence) Journey

Ron Pereira addresses the common question of where to start a lean journey.  The starting point for a lean journey depends on the unique situation and goals.

Know Why

• Understanding the "why" behind embarking on a lean journey is crucial.
• Different motivations for starting lean may include recommendations, strategic initiatives, business goals, or customer requests.
• People are more likely to contribute to lean efforts when they understand and agree on the reasons behind them.

Follow the Money

• One key to a successful transformation is securing early wins, often referred to as "following the money."
• Quick wins should be measurable and have a real impact.
• It's important to involve financial experts to ensure that savings are tangible and not just theoretical.

Visualize the Future

• A clear vision of where you want to go is essential for continuous improvement.
• Suggests looking outside your organization, possibly by visiting advanced lean-thinking companies, to develop a vision.
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding the "why" behind processes and practices, rather than simply copying tools and procedures.

Just Start!

• Ron Pereira emphasizes the significance of taking the initial step in a lean journey.
• He mentions the concept of not letting perfection get in the way of progress, encouraging a practical and realistic approach to lean implementation.

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