What do you do if stakeholders and departments clash in a Lean Manufacturing project?

It is also important to ensure that the plant manager is aligned with the goals and with you as the facilitator. Without her or his total buy in, we will not be able to effectively bring all stakeholders in alignment

El enfoque debe estar orientado hacia la objetividad y la consecución de los resultados. Eventualmente sin la perspectiva requerida, los departamentos suelen ralentizar una implementación por salvaguardar sus procesos internos. Sin embargo, si el objetivo del proyecto está bien gestado y los resultados son claramente tangibles, toda la organización debe alinearse objetivamente hacia la evolución.

Os departamentos devem estar interados com o mesmo objetivo e entender que o processo de melhoria necessita ser um bem comum, ou seja, irá auxiliar as duas áreas a chegarem em resultados favoráveis. O conhecimento da ferramenta correta é fundamental na condução do projeto e ações com prazo e responsáveis para execução será o diferencial para o sucesso do projeto.

The most important step to be taken is to sit along with all the concerned persons and find out the root cause of the conflict. Listen to each person's views carefully and note it down. Creating a forum is a critical step where everyone is allowed to express his/her views candidly. Taking up certain behavioural issues and ego clash can be taken up with each individual separately.

Where there is conflict there is a lack of understanding what the common goal is. Normally I have the groups put it all on the table and then bring us back to the mission. It's really easy for us as humans to forget the enemy is outside our four walls not inside

Engaging stakeholders effectively is key to resolving conflicts and fostering collaboration. Implementing strategies such as regular communication channels, stakeholder meetings, and cross-functional workshops can facilitate open dialogue and alignment of objectives. For example, conducting stakeholder interviews or focus groups can provide insights into individual perspectives and concerns, enabling informed decision-making and conflict resolution.

now you have objectives , clear directions , clear issues , its time to engage the team members with their designated tasks & objective. you have to be vocal in your communications with team & among the team also. this can be meet by daily targets , daily meetings. Set goals for team members to achieve the Lean manufacturing project objectives

Giving equal importance to each individual is also an important step to be taken up by the leader. Engaging each member to contribute to the success of the Lean Manufacturing activities must be imbibed in their minds and actions. As a leader one must facilitate open and friendly discussion and appreciate the team work. A continuous dialogue with all the stakeholders is a key to success.

Der Projektleiter muss die Wünsche und Bedürfnisse der einzelnen Stakeholder verstehen. Nur dann kann es einen Dialog geben. Ohne ein Verständnis der Stakeholder ist die Lösungsfindung schwer.

The goal of achieving successful implementation of Lean Manufacturing has to be understood by each member and department. A continuous communication and review will keep the mission on track. Fostering comredeire spirits and sharing the benefits and appreciation to all will take the project ahead on a faster pace.

Finding common ground among stakeholders and departments is critical for reaching consensus and moving the project forward. Identifying shared goals, interests, and priorities can help bridge differences and build mutual understanding and trust. For instance, highlighting the potential benefits and opportunities for all parties involved can create a sense of shared purpose and commitment to project success.

In a series of business processes, management at a higher level must be able to identify where the biggest bottlenecks are. With an explanation of a big goal, each department will be able to understand which actions will take priority regarding lean implementation. So that KPIs can be adjusted from year to year following trends in customer challenges and internal process capabilities, and the bottleneck

Finding common ground is crucial in resolving conflicts within a Lean Manufacturing project because it shifts the focus from individual concerns to shared objectives. By emphasizing the collective benefits of Lean practices, such as enhanced efficiency and customer satisfaction, we encourage collaboration and unity, ensuring that every department recognizes its critical role in achieving success together. This approach not only resolves clashes but also strengthens the team’s bond.

More specifically, it’s important that your key stakeholders are aligned on the problem that needs to be solved. If this is not understood consistently and with agreed prioritization, you will struggle to align on solutions and action plans. I find this simple misunderstanding is most frequent in kaizen or lean projects. Different views define the problem differently - this is normal. Ensure your stakeholders see the different viewpoints and agree on the specific problem they will solve together.

To manage clashes in a Lean Manufacturing project, encourage open communication for all parties to express concerns. Identify common goals to find solutions that satisfy everyone. If conflict persists, involve a neutral mediator. Providing training about Lean Manufacturing principles can align understanding and reduce conflicts. In some cases, senior leadership involvement may be necessary. Conflicts can lead to improvement and innovation if managed effectively.

After highlighting issues , you have assigned different tasks to team members. its time to implement the solutions suggested by project manager , you have to be aggressive for implementing action plan. As lean is continuous process , you can have changes during the project for better results , as everyone's ultimate goal is to get improved project .

Implementing solutions that address the root causes of conflicts is essential for resolving issues effectively. This may involve revising project plans, reallocating resources, or redefining roles and responsibilities to better align with stakeholder expectations. Utilizing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, such as value stream mapping or process improvement techniques, can help identify and implement targeted solutions to improve collaboration and efficiency.

Implementing solutions that consider all stakeholders' concerns is a pivotal step in resolving clashes within a Lean Manufacturing project. By crafting action plans that reflect the collective feedback and adhere to Lean principles, we not only address immediate issues but also pave the way for ongoing improvements. This demonstrates our commitment to continuous enhancement and readiness to refine strategies, ensuring the project remains dynamic and responsive to everyone's needs.

Basierend auf dem erhaltenen Feedback und den identifizierten Herausforderungen sollten klare Aktionspläne entwickelt werden, um die notwendigen Veränderungen umzusetzen. Diese Aktionspläne sollten messbare Ziele, Verantwortlichkeiten und Zeitrahmen für die Umsetzung enthalten. Kommunizieren Sie geplante Änderungen klar und transparent an alle Beteiligten und stellen Sie sicher, dass sie die zugrunde liegenden Prinzipien und Ziele verstehen. Schulen Sie Mitarbeiter bei Bedarf in neuen Prozessen oder Verfahren.Lean-Prozesse erfordern Flexibilität und Anpassungsfähigkeit, um auf sich ändernde Anforderungen zu reagieren.

Die regelmäßige Messung und Überwachung von Leistungskennzahlen (KPIs) ermöglicht es Ihnen, den Fortschritt ihrer Lean-Initiativen zu verfolgen und den Erfolg ihrer Verbesserungsbemühungen zu bewerten. Durch die Analyse von Daten können Sie Schwachstellen identifizieren und gezielte Maßnahmen ergreifen, um diese zu beheben.

Monitoring progress and performance regularly is crucial for ensuring that conflicts do not resurface and that improvements are sustained over time. Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestones can help track project outcomes and identify areas for further improvement. For example, conducting periodic project reviews and stakeholder feedback sessions can provide valuable insights into project effectiveness and help address any emerging conflicts or challenges.

I like to apply agile management methodology, such as Scrum, to have daily meetings and divide activities into sprints, with sprint reviews to constantly validate the issues affecting performance and work to resolve them, ensuring they don't recur. I recommend applying Scrum for short to medium-term agile projects.

Develop and create awareness regarding continuous improvement one of the key principle that has always worked for me is to get into the small projects of continuous improvement with the departments and let them see the results of improvement provide data and visual representations of the changes you are going to make and then repeat the same for the big projects you want to implement one of the crucial things in continuous improvement is to discuss with the stakeholders and the process partners to get in depth information.

Promoting a culture of continuous improvement is essential for preventing conflicts and driving ongoing collaboration and innovation. Encouraging feedback, learning from past experiences, and implementing lessons learned can help organizations adapt and evolve in response to changing needs and priorities. For instance, conducting post-project reviews and sharing best practices can help disseminate knowledge and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Sowohl die Firma als auch die Mitarbeiter müssen bereit sein, bzw. auch die Möglichkeit haben kontinuierlich zu lernen. Diese Lean Prinzipien fallen nicht vom Himmel wie man früher gesagt hat. Diese Prinzipien muss man leben. Das gilt für alle. Und was noch schwieriger ist, als Projektleiter muss man auch die Stakeholder von den Lean Prinzipien überzeugen.

Fostering a culture of continuous improvement is the key to preventing future clashes in Lean Manufacturing projects. By promoting ongoing education and training on Lean principles for all stakeholders, we cultivate a common understanding and dedication to the methodology. This approach not only reduces resistance but also fosters a more collaborative and harmonious working environment, reinforcing the idea that Lean is all about progressive evolution and adaptation for superior results.

All of the points mentioned are very good. My only other perspective is to consider that it will most likely be true that you will always have differing opinions or strategies, that is ok and should be welcomed. Any good team should be made up of true cross functional people. This forces different opinions due to different filters. Why should a finance person be on a CI team, so they bring their filter of logic and data to the discussion. They may not know manufacturing but they do know how to ask questions and follow logic. Once you have options for solutions, implement them quickly to test theories. Even if you implement something that fails, as long as it doesn’t jeopardize Safety or Quality, let it fail fast.

People clash, when they have different beliefs about what ‘good’ looks like for them. The assumptions that naturally occur as a summary of such imprinted beliefs, lead to their predefined position being defended by their brain on autopilot. It’s often hard to communicate effectively before defences are triggered in such conditions. The best thing to do, is educate those who have to collaborate, to understand the shortcuts their brain takes, so they can consciously mitigate for assumptions over a long enough time period, so via neurogenesis, their brain rewires and different automatic responses are cultivated.

In my opinion, when stakeholders and departments clash in a lean manufacturing project, it's important to promptly address the conflict by facilitating open communication, clarifying expectations, and seeking compromise. Involving leadership and emphasizing continuous improvement can help resolve conflicts and maintain project momentum while fostering a collaborative culture for long-term success.

I would say find common ground which is explained already but further to that a lean project is a learning opportunity for all to experience, to gain knowledge, add to their skill base, opportunity to work in a team of diverse minds. It’s an overall rewarding experience and that alone can be motivation for teams.

I would say find common ground which is explained already but further to that a lean project is a learning opportunity for all to experience, to gain knowledge, add to their skill base, opportunity to work in a team of diverse minds. It’s an overall rewarding experience and that alone can be motivation for teams.