Mr. Yoshinio was a young man working in a paint shop when he applied the wrong paint to a product. Fearing his manager would fire him for this mistake, Mr. Yoshino was inspired when his manager listened and worked to correct a faulty process instead.
In cooperation with the Lean Enterprise Institute, consultant Katie Anderson describes how Lean legend Isao Yoshino learned first-hand the value of blaming the process instead of the people when failures occur.
Supply Chain Digest’s article highlights the underpinnings of Lean leadership in action.
Video Spotlight:
- Respect for People (July 13, 2016, Lean Construction Institute)
- Lean Thinking – Respect for People (Feb 28, 2011, Business901)
- Respect for People – Lean success requires a new outlook on people (Aug 23, 2016, Respect for people)
This post is based on the Supply Chain Digest article, Supply Chain News: Lean Thinking Means Blaming Process, not People, by SCDigest Editorial Staff, October 14, 2020, and the YouTube videos in the Spotlight. Image source: Juice Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Discussion Questions:
1. How did Mr. Yoshino’s manager demonstrate “respect for people” as a Lean principle? What impact would this type of management behavior have Continue reading