DECEMBER 20208 MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSIN MY OPINIONWhat's your most important product? If the pandemic-rattled world of 2020 has taught us anything, it's how quickly even that physical product's positioning can be challenged by the unexpected. So, the product that might be even more important in these fragmented times is something cohesive that you build internally, a culture of continuous improvement practices that equip the organization to deal with both seismic and incremental shifts.A strong Lean foundation positions you to do just that, with tenants equally applicable for a company withone or multiple locations, multiple or repetitive product lines, and high mix-low volume or high volume-low mix approaches.This year hasn't made it easy. Robert Strauss sums up the struggle: "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired; you quit when the gorilla is tired."No matter which gorilla is in play ­ the marketplace, pandemic, company culture, etc. ­ it can be relentless and requires constant adjustment, adaptation and reflection. Inherently we must connect authentically and often, which to me is the key strategy regarding technology and Lean today.While there's plenty of technology that supports the Lean approach, platforms that mimic face-to-face interaction have come to the forefront this year in our key areas of emphasis: leadership development, coaching, emotional intelligence, and engagement.Let's start with leadership development. My mentor John Maxwell states, "The only way to improve an organization is to grow and improve the leaders. If you want to make an impact, start with yourself."Each month our four Lean champion teams meet incross-functional discussion groups focused on key topics. The practice helps improve 2020 Year of the Lean Counter-ShiftBy Rick Foreman, Vice President of Lean Development, Federal Heath
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