So, what's stopping your organization from making the next move?

It's probably because the decision makers are not really sure about what to do next. I often hear general comments based on the belief that there is a need to learn more about implementing lean principles before a final decision can be made to get started! All in the decision-making circle want to make sure that they are not going to be held responsible for a potential failure!

Now, there's probably a few people in the company who have a basic understanding of the lean process. But others may like to get a better grasp of the subject before reaching an agreement to make the important decision to start implementing lean. It's a never ending dilemma, trying to decide about when and where to start the process. In the end, many companies enter a downward spiral of "analysis paralysis" and never seem to come out of it. Over analyzing is a form of distraction and can lead to procrastination.

Procrastination is an issue because it creates bigger problem! With each passing day, the hidden waste that nobody can see is going to cause the company to lose more and more money. In fact, experts say that non-lean companies spend 15% to 40% of their revenue supporting inefficient practices and waste. A company will continue to lose money until they change and start doing things differently. In other words, procrastination could increase operating costs!