The Front-Line Supervisor and Key Actions to Use in Creating Lean Success

Leadership has been recognized as an integral part of a successful Lean transformation. Leaders are people others follow, and while there is a general understanding of Lean leadership behaviors in private sector organizations, do these same leadership behaviors translate to public sector organizations. The frontline supervisor in a Lean transformation is critical to its success. The role of the frontline supervisor is complex requiring a balance between the interests of higher levels of management and the work units they lead. The front-line supervisor is also a key communicator in interpreting and implementing the goals and objectives of the Lean effort. This interactive session will explore the key traits necessary for front line supervisors to build successful lean efforts. This program will share the results of in-depth interviews with front-line supervisors from seven commonwealth agencies. The participants will discover the several leadership behaviors that front line supervisors exhibit to engage their direct reports in a successful Lean transformation, and will takeaway practices, that can be implemented the next day.