Thomas Fischer

Understand what creates value for customers

Physical work processes that are visible and logical give employees good working conditions. Process visibility promotes understanding, quality awareness and a sense of the broad picture.

goals and results must be made visible, partly to maintain organizational focus on the operating targets and partly to direct focus towards areas slated for improvement.

The job of collecting data and updating the boards can be very usefully delegated to employees. After six months to a year of systematically following up and illustrating results and data, the organization often becomes far more fact-oriented. Staff get used to making decisions and acting on the basis of concrete information rather than on gut feelings and assumptions

purpose of a standard is to create robust, reliable and replicable processes based on experience and best practice.

standards are a critical prerequisite for ensuring robust processes and stable operations. They are a cornerstone of the lean foundation.

Management must provide the right internal structures, the right organization and the right employees with the right competencies.

The team as a whole typically shares responsibility for:
• Planning daily operations
• Developing daily operations
• Following up on daily operations
• Conducting improvement activities
• Developing of qualifications.

When teams are formed, however, this role changes, with the team’s sharing greater responsibility for suggesting and carrying out improvements. In this scenario, the team leader’s role is to steer the team in the right direction.

The team leader’s real challenge lies in mastering the role of coach.