TL;DR:The late Norman Bodek argues that Lean fails not due to poor workers or missing tools, but because management systems prioritize short-term results over developing people. Toyota’s real advantage, he says, is its long-term commitment to respect, learning, and empowering employees to solve problems. Editor’s note (2026): This early interview with Norman Bodek highlights why people development–not tools–remains the hardest and most essential part of Lean today. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to have … Continue reading Interview with Lean Pioneer Norman Bodek: Developing People Is the Missing Piece (Part 1)