No Time To Waste

by LeanTeams

On Purpose: Customer-first as a cultural mindset

Customer-first isn’t a slogan; it’s how we decide.

Define the customer (applies to both internal & external) and make their needs visible using CCR (critical customer requirements), quality, delivery, cost & experience.

Tie improvements to a customer-visible outcome and review that outcome in your regular team meetings or daily huddles.

Start with the customer and work backwards
Jeff Bezos, Amazon 1997 Letter to Shareholders

On Process: Error proofing (Poka-Yoke) examples

Poka-Yoke eliminates defects by making the right way the easy way (or the only way).

Start where errors are most costly to the customer.

Stop and fix: Forms/CRM fields, shadow boards, verification checks, Approvals, Meeting agendas, due dates, sensors.

The essence of Poka-Yoke is to design devices so errors are impossible or immediately detectable
Shigeo Shingo, Zero Quality Control.

On People: Skills matrix and team development planning

Make capability visible.

Build a skills matrix (people × tasks with levels: Aware → Can Do With Support → Can Do Independently → Can Teach).

Use it to:

plan cross-training against demand and risk
create individual development plans aligned to customer needs.

In Toyota all managers are expected to be teachers, developing talent in others
Jeffrey K. Liker, The Toyota Way

Leader’s Task of the Week

Start your skills matrix List 6–10 critical tasks that affect customer experience. Build a quick skills matrix (4-level scale). Identify one risk (single-point dependency) and schedule one cross-train pairing this week using TWI Job Instruction (Prepare → Present → Try-out → Follow-up). Post the matrix on the team board; review weekly.

Your Lean Check

At this time of year, you may be planning for 2026.

We’ve built a short Lean Check to help you assess where your organisation stands and identify improvements for next year.

Upcoming Workshops & Events

Join our upcoming sessions to deepen your Lean knowledge and network.

Dublin Lean Network AGM

Call for 2026 Volunteers: The Network is business-led; we’re inviting representatives from organisations championing Lean to join the steering group. Email a short note on your company’s Lean work to express interest.

LEAN PRACTITIONER

Apply Lean thinking in 12 weeks

Dublin Lean Network

Knowledge Sharing

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