Today, we
celebrate Independence Day in the US. The 4th of July is an extremely patriotic
holiday where we celebrate the independence of our country. People celebrate
with family and friend gatherings, barbecues, parties, games, food, fun,
festivals, parades, musical events and fireworks.

Freedom is not
just the natural right of every human. It is the state of mind that enables
people to create the greatest and the most inspiring things. The spirit of
freedom gives us the power to conquer new heights, whether it is a real
mountain peak or a bold business challenge.

Lean is all
about finding better ways to do things, so that they require less effort, less
time and fewer resources. It is not about cost reduction – penny-pinching,
cutting investment, taking out people – it is about finding better ways to get
work done. It is about developing a mindset, methods, and tools to identify and
eliminate waste in all its forms at every opportunity. It is about freeing up
resources because you no longer need to use them.

Lean
manufacturing provides your workforce the freedom that they need to own and
maximize their productivity. In a Lean production plant, the “freedom to
control one’s work” replaces the “mind numbing stress” of mass
production. Armed with the skills they need to control their environment
workers have the opportunity to think actively, even proactively to solve
workplace problems.

Lean is more
than the traditional metrics of improved efficiency, reduced costs and
increased throughput. The people-centric approach to the application of Lean
creates a better future, driven by empowered individuals working in teams,
committed to continuous improvement. It is this culture of responsible freedom
and trust that allows employees and their organization to realize the positive
benefits of Lean and achieve a successful outcome.

Lean
Manufacturing is a business method that extends employees independence.  It provides more employees with the tools, methods,
and authority to make decisions. It creates teams to measure progress and
devise new techniques. This leads to higher employee motivation and
productivity as workers are asked to come up with solutions to problems as
opposed to having to work with flawed procedures. There is much to be said for
greater worker independence in the execution of a lean philosophy. We may not
have a day to celebrate like the US but the message is no less important.