Change Management
“Why not make the work easier and more interesting so that people do not have to sweat? The Toyota style is not to create results by working hard. It is a system that says there is no limit to people’s creativity.
People don’t go to Toyota to ‘work’ they go there to ‘think”
Taiichi Ohno
As well as improving processes, a lean transformation involves a need for a culture that drives continuous improvement – often requiring a new organisational mind-set
Continuous improvement should involve everybody. It's about getting people to look at things differently and come up with creative solutions to common problems. If you get the buy-in of all staff, you will clearly see the benefits.
And that’s where the main stumbling block to implementation and sustaining improvements often lies. The need to change organisational culture and win the hearts and minds of everybody is central to success. Education is crucial and in industry we will usually involve everyone in lean awareness training and then develop higher level skills in our lean champions who are of paramount importance in driving through the changes
Your lean transformation will mean a radical rethinking of working procedures in hospitals and elsewhere and a long term commitment by management at the highest levels.