Is LEAN a cult?

Have you ever spoken to someone in a cult?  Seen their vacant eyes as they recited the unfailing doctrine and spouted cult specific jargon?


Here are 6 of the 9 symptoms of Cult Influence from
http://www.workingpsychology.com/cultdef.html


1. Insistence that you do what they are doing.
2. New vocabulary ("using complex jargon to obscure irrational or simplistic thinking?")
3. Black and white, simplistic reasoning  (if it's LEAN it works)
4. Sudden use of a new ideology to explain everything 
5. Inability to make decisions without consulting a guru (LEANster)
6. Dramatic shifts of values or beliefs (LEAN process overrides patient care)


Kaizen, kanban, gemba, waste, six sigma black belt, root cause analysis, pull system, TAKT time, standardized work, shadowing, andon, muda, mura, muri, JIT, non value added work, one piece flow,  poka yoke, red tags, 5S, turnaround time, sensei, seven wastes, theory of constraints, throughput time, kaikaku, keijunka, functional layout, current state map.


An old post (11/21/2008) on LEI (Lean Enterprise Institute) blog says "Does LEI need a wiki on lean jargon?"  Just google "lean jargon" and you'll get hits for many LEANster blogs happily and proudly defining terms for you.


I had this recent experience with a Hospital LEAN administrator.  I was communicating my frustration about a piece of equipment that was being removed due to 5S (don't ask, or just google LEAN jargon).  It made no sense to remove this piece of equipment.  I think I could ask 100 LEANsters and I'll bet you 98 would say that this piece of equipment did not need to be removed.  In fact, a paid outside LEAN consultant was brought in a year ago and on the visit asked about this piece of equipment.  He said it was fine to keep this piece of equipment.  Go figure.


But, the administrator looked at me with a vacant expression, no one home eyes, and started babbling LEAN philosophy.  Standard workstations,  supply in the area, etc.  It was scary - he's a good guy but he seemed taken over by the vacant cult like behavior of someone who can no longer think for himself but has to do the nonsensical groupspeak.


The deprogramming on this one is going to be huge.  In fact, my consulting business has formally launched.  Any hospital waking up to the LEAN phenomenon and how you've been duped, send me an email.  Let the deprogramming begin!