Responding to profit imperatives, many companies are concentrating only on reducing costs rather than looking to lean as a source of greater efficiencies
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3. Emphasis on imagery rather than real work

Compared to their Japanese peers, U.S. management is too focused on the trappings of a lean initiative, such as slogans, launch parties and classes, rather than rolling up their sleeves and figuring out how to improve actual processes, says Womack.