A better roadmap for putting Lean into action
Source: iise.org/ISEMagazine
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.
The Journey: A Guide to Lean Transformation Success is published by Leitner Consulting Group. Signed copies are available at www.LeitnerCG.com.
Source: iise.org/ISEMagazine