ABSTRACT
You have spent a lot of time learning how to use the tools of Lean; now there is a need to discuss your overall plan for implementation of the tools into your company. Although future state value stream maps provide an excellent way of visualizing your new processes and also include a due date for completion, they do not provide some of the detailed project scheduling or strategic planning that needs to be done; therefore we recommend using this system for a three-to six-year plan. What is good about this system is that you assign, by department, tasks that need to be completed in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years. To begin the process, the manager of each department, working with the Lean coach (manager), completes the plan for his or her department and then each department has its staff agree to the plan. Once this is done, the manager approves the plan by signing it. The plan can then be placed on the conference room and departments’ glass walls for everyone to see. The plan is updated by the responsible manager on a monthly basis by changing the color of the task from blue to green, signifying that this phase of the project is complete and they are ready for the next phase.
