Jim,

You have added three more important facets to the LEM/LOC management mantra that we know works so effectively.  One could say that these should be obvious to most any ‘good’ manager. That’s probably true.  However, being aware of them is very different from being a part of an organization where the leader unquestionably lives according to them and expects and enforces compliance with them throughout the organization.

Knowledge is one thing; execution is quite another. And, in my opinion, the key to execution is leadership that sets the standard by example, transmits expectations, assigns individual accountability, tracks progress, assesses success/failure, and provides appropriate rewards/discipline. As Larry Bossidy espouses, leadership that leads to effective EXECUTION is the key between competitors who have equally strong visions, missions, and objectives and who are staffed with similarly capable warriors.

As powerful as LOC/LEM/MAT concepts are in facility/organization optimization, one new engineer or supervisor attempting to practice them will be marginally effective (likely more frustrating than effective) until these concepts are adopted by  a critical mass in the organization.  The organization’s leader can speed-up the achievement of this critical mass and, in turn, the powerful results that can be realized.

Maybe we should lobby to have these concepts included in a required undergraduate course on “Keys to Management Success” ?

Highest regards,

Ed Turner

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