Mark Graban gives a nice review of some material on web site of a United labor union in: An Encouraging Lean Example at United Airlines. From the union web site, he quotes:
“Once fully implemented, the 5S+1 process can increase morale, create positive impressions on customers, and increase efficiency and organization. Not only will team members feel better about where they work, the effect on continuous improvement can lead to less waste, better quality and faster lead times.”
It is much easier to talk about these things than to actually do them. Still, that talk is the right talk. A really good sign will be when the labor union uses lean thinking for its own management. The same goes for the “executive suite.” This isn’t just stuff for the other people to do.
