When leading change efforts related to LEAN Transformation, it is always easy to reach the first milestone. The initial transformation and short term gains instill a sense of success. Then entropy starts playing spoilsport. Sustenance is always a more difficult challenge to address and most organizations falter in the long run.

3 Key building blocks or foundation elements play a critical role in Sustaining Lean transformation efforts.

1. Problem Solving
What’s more important “Solving a problem” or “Learning to Solve problems”. An Organization should encourage “Learning” and “Problem solving” without the fear of failure as a first step towards building a LEAN Culture.

2. Continuous Improvement mindset
Developing an eye for identifying opportunities to make small valuable changes to make day to day operations easier

3. Knowledge Sharing & Growth
Ability to capture, codify & share Domain & Technical Knowledge to accelerate growth. It is important to ensure that when problems are solved or process improvements made. the learning’s and gains are shared across the organization and all relevant members benefit and rework / re-learning’s are minimized.

Ensuring right focus & attention on these 3 building blocks through the transformation journey will help make Sustainance much easier to accomplish.