FT Guide to Lean

2

Hoshin kanri strategy deployment

Introduction

‘If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.’

Einstein

Hoshin drives the tempo of improvement during your Lean transformation. It puts operational improvement on the same stage as making the numbers or doing the normal day-to-day routine work. In my view it can be the potent advantage that sets your organisation ahead of the competition.

Hoshin kanri is often formally conducted after Lean has been piloted for a short period in an organisation. The reason for this is to prove the concept of Lean first and to build confidence through a demonstrated success story.

The Japanese term hoshin means compass, or pointing direction, kanri means management or control. ...