Many
Business Owners and Top Managers think that implementing Lean Manufacturing
is just a matter of:
If you
already are committed into the Lean Manufacturing Culture you will agree: it
is not That Simple.
I
usually try to have a meeting with any prospective Lean Manufacturing
Implementation customers to go through some vital details about the
indispensable changes of mindset at all levels in the organization. Among
the issues that frequently come as a surprise one is “The
Human Side of Lean Manufacturing.”
Since
we all want to increase the quality of the processes, and taking into
account that humans are generally behind each of these processes, we will
need to make sure those Human beings are happy! Happiness is what produces
quality. How do we get people to be happy? Very easy: give them respect and
ask them:
“How
can I help you do your job?”
WHAAAT?
HELP THEM! Yes indeed, it all starts here.
That
is what I mean with "The
Human Side of Lean Manufacturing"
When top management and all other management levels become aware that the
way to transform the traditional top-down mandate style needs to be improved
to more of a Leadership – Motivational Style.
Speaking
of Motivation, one of the common denominators of poor performance anywhere
is: Lack of Motivation, another is Low Self-Esteem; obviously they both are
strongly associated.
How
can you contribute to raise the motivation and self-esteem of your people?
You
probably have a few answers at this time…
Here
are some answers from operators and workers from a variety of industries:
-
“listening
to our ideas and concerns”
-
“recognition
of our contribution to the success, even if it is our job”
-
“making
us feel we are a part in the big picture”
-
“providing
us what we need to do the job”
-
“allowing
for us to decide our vacation times without affecting production”
-
“having
us evaluate our supervisors”
-
“explaining
situations clearly so we can help better”
The
list goes on and on, what is critical is to believe that we have the best
people and we want to keep them with us.
Trust
develops Commitment.
Related
Article: SWOTT an Exercise That Can Change The Future of Your
Business and Your Life!
Click
Here to see more articles on MANAGEMENT
& LEADERSHIP