TL;DR: Lean isn’t about “idiot-proofing” work–it’s about respecting people. True Lean focuses on improving systems (through mistake-proofing and better design), not blaming or deceiving workers. When leaders treat people as capable professionals and fix processes instead of people, quality, learning, and continuous improvement follow. I’ve long been skeptical of so-called “Lean Sigma” or “Lean Six Sigma.” And not because I’m against Six Sigma statistical methods, which are valid and helpful in solving certain difficult problems. … Continue reading Lean People Don’t Say Things Like “Idiot Proofing”