HOWE Q. WALLACE BLOG

Building a Lean Culture: Mindset and Action

β€œLean” thinking creates a willingness to try new things.

We have taught 6S, which focuses on safely reorganizing and establishing ways to maintain our spaces.

We have conducted Kaizen events, which are intensive efforts to quickly transform a place or process.

As you engage in these practices, we hope it changes your way of looking at the world, especially at work.

We hope that when you see disorder, your mind says, β€œThat’s not lean.”

We hope that when you see inefficiency, your mind says, β€œThat’s not lean.”

When you see wasted time, motion, or materials, we hope your mind says, β€œThat’s not lean.”

We will have achieved a β€œlean” culture when, upon seeing something that isn’t β€œlean,” you take action to address it.

Address it by trying something different.

Address it by discussing it with teammates to brainstorm alternatives that would be better.

Address it by bringing it to plant leaders or experts who can help improve the situation.

β€œLean” is a mindset. It’s also driven by action.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr