Remember "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" Lao Tsu, c. 550 BC

If you decide to embrace lean then you are embarking on a never-ending journey. Successful adopters of lean recognise that they need to strive for perpetual improvements in order to ensure that they remain at the forefront of service provision.

Where do you start?

In order to enjoy the long-term benefits of lean, it is important to see it as a culture change rather than an investment in a particular training course. Spending time planning at the beginning will reap rewards later.

There are many ways in which you can implement lean, but our hands-on experience has enabled us to develop an approach which combines theory and practice to ensure you have the best possible chance of succeeding.

The actual training plan will vary from organisation to organisation, but phase 1 is likely to include some or all of the following:

• 6S Workplace Organisation
• Process Flow/Value Stream Mapping
• Standard Operations and Document Control

The progression route through the various lean techniques will depend on organisational requirements, but engaging appropriate employees in the qualification Business Improvement Techniques NVQ levels 2 & 3 will help to ensure your improvements are sustained.