Author focuses more on mindset than tools in applying principles

Few would deny the value of Lean practices in making work processes more efficient and productive while reducing waste. But is everyone applying Lean properly to realize its full potential? Keith A. Leitner, president and founder of Leitner Consulting Group and a faculty member at the universities of Tennessee and Louisville, addresses this in his 2026 book, The Journey: A Guide to Lean Transformation Success. He offers a practical and human-centered roadmap for achieving sustainable Lean results based on his 30 years of experience advising organizations across multiple industries. He notes that many organizations struggle to translate tools and methodologies into lasting change, leading many well-intended Lean transformations to stall. Leitner believes lasting results are determined less by what changes organizations implement and more by how that change is led and who is responsible for leading it. This shift in perspective focuses less on the mechanics of Lean and more on leadership, behavior and organizational dynamics. “Organizations don’t fail at Lean because they lack knowledge of the tools,” he said. “They struggle because transformation demands a different way of leading, thinking and engaging people. When leaders understand that distinction, everything changes.” The book is structured as more of a guide than a technical manual and is based on eight guiding principles for transformation success, while blending strategic insight with practical examples from Lean initiatives. It emphasizes the role of leadership alignment to unlock lasting continuous improvement. “Lean transformation is not a project or a checklist – it’s a journey that fundamentally changes how people think, lead, and work together, and this book helps leaders understand not just what to do, but how to lead through the complexity that inevitably arises during transformation,” Leitner said.

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As a part of our interview series called “How Employers and Employees are Reworking Work Together,” we had the pleasure of interviewing Keith A. Leitner.

Keith A. Leitner is the president and founder of Leitner Consulting Group and serves on the faculty of the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee and the College of Business at the University of Louisville. With more than 30 years of experience, he has guided organizations across manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and healthcare in designing and sustaining high-performance Lean operations, uniquely integrating Lean and Theory of Constraints to unlock capacity, profitability, and growth. He is the author of The Journey: A Guide to Lean Transformation Success and is widely recognized for his people-focused approach to building cultures where continuous improvement becomes a way of life.

Lean Transformation Needs to Start with a Mission

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An article on LeanTransformation.com defines Lean as the art of continuous improvement, focusing on efficiency through minimizing waste and maximizing value, guided by principles of relentless innovation and respect for people.  

KNOXVILLE, TENN. – January 15, 2026 - At a time when organizations across industries are under pressure to operate faster, smarter, and more efficiently, a new business book is challenging leaders to rethink how they approach Lean transformation. The Journey: A Guide to Lean Transformation Success, by Keith A. Leitner, launched nationwide today and offers a practical and human-centered roadmap for achieving sustainable Lean results.

Despite three decades of investment in Lean management, many organizations struggle to translate tools and methodologies into lasting change. In The Journey, Leitner draws on years of advising companies through complex transformations to explain why so many well-intended Lean transformations stall and what distinguishes those that deliver lasting performance gains.  While most Lean initiatives focus on tools and frameworks, Leitner argues that lasting results are determined at a deeper level – making the case that sustainable transformation is driven less by what organizations implement and more by how change is led and the individuals responsible for leading it. This shift in perspective - away from mechanics and toward leadership, behavior, and organizational dynamics - is what sets the book apart.

“Organizations don’t fail at Lean because they lack knowledge of the tools,” said Leitner. “They struggle because transformation demands a different way of leading, thinking, and engaging people. When leaders understand that distinction, everything changes.” He continues, “Lean transformation is not a project or a checklist - it’s a journey that fundamentally changes how people think, lead, and work together, and this book helps leaders understand not just what to do, but how to lead through the complexity that inevitably arises during transformation.”

Rather than focusing solely on process improvements, The Journey:

• Emphasizes leadership behavior, organizational mindset, and the cultural shifts required to make Lean stick

• Delivers the missing link to lean transformation success – the how and the who –  and lays out the rationale for success within the most overlooked aspect of all lean transformations - the workforce that ultimately will decide its success.

• Presents eight guiding principles for transformation success - rather than introducing another toolset - offering leaders a practical framework for navigating resistance, aligning decision-makers, and sustaining momentum over time. These principles are designed to be applied across industries and organizational contexts, providing a consistent lens for leading change rather than managing projects.

"Without question, Keith is one of the most effective Lean practitioners I’ve ever worked with, and has a keen ability to energize teams and act as the catalyst for the meaningful change companies are seeking,” said Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, author, and Leitner’s greatest teacher and mentor. “In The Journey, Keith draws on years of hands-on experience to share practical lessons that complement and extend the principles in my book The Toyota Way…his insights show corporate leaders not only what to do, but how to lead Lean transformation successfully—again and again."  

Dr. Liker is a leading authority on Lean management and the Toyota Production System, best known as the author of The Toyota Way. As president of Liker Lean Advisors, he has advised organizations worldwide and earned multiple Shingo Prizes.

Structured as a guide rather than a technical manual, The Journey blends strategic insight with practical examples, making it accessible to executives, managers, and change leaders alike. Readers are walked through the common pitfalls of Lean initiatives, the critical role of leadership alignment, and the conditions necessary to unlock continuous improvement across the organization. The book is particularly timely as companies seek operational resilience amid economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, and increasing competitive pressure. By reframing Lean as an organizational evolution rather than a set of tools, The Journey provides leaders with a clearer path to measurable, lasting impact.

The Journey: A Guide to Lean Transformation Success is now available on Amazon in print (paperback) for $14.95 and in digital format for Kindle for $4.99. Signed hard copies will soon become available at www.LeitnerCG.com.

About the AuthorKeith A. Leitner is president and founder of Leitner Consulting Group and serves on the faculty of the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee and the College of Business at the University of Louisville. With more than 30 years’ experience, he has advised organizations across shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, and defense, helping leaders design and sustain high-performance Lean enterprises. Renowned for his ability to adapt Lean methodologies to complex, high-stakes environments, Keith is particularly recognized for linking Lean and Theory of Constraints to unlock capacity, remove operational bottlenecks, and drive profitable growth—while maintaining a strong, people-centered approach that builds commitment and overcomes resistance to change.  A frequent speaker and award-winning educator, Leitner has led and directed executive education programs for industry and healthcare leaders and has been recognized for excellence in teaching and impact, including being named Outstanding Faculty Member for the University of Tennessee Executive MBA for Healthcare Leadership. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Appalachian State University and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and Management from the University of North Carolina, Pembroke.

Press Contact

For review copies or interview requests with Mr. Leitner, contact: Laura Hall, laura@hallcomms.com, 917.544.6344