ABSTRACT
Embarking on a journey of Lean deployment is not a bed of roses. Just picking tools from the quiver and deploying them does not mean things are done. Despite thinking tools have been deployed in the right manner, many deployments fail because there are individuals who may not have come on board and have not put their hearts and minds in the Lean effort. A Lean professional should constantly keep his antennas on to find who is supporting the Lean efforts and who is not. One of the traits of successful Lean deployment is that people are engaged in the Lean journey and are committed to achieving the shared objective of the transformation. Smelling and ascertaining resistance are key roles of a Lean professional. This is a skill that a Lean professional should acquire and polish over a period of time. I have seen many Lean professionals who are adept regarding tools and techniques. They not only know them but also know how to apply them successfully. But, where they falter is in their ability to understand who are the resistors in the transformation and if employees are engaged in the journey.
