The Lean management approach to business has been around for decades. It grew out of the paradigm that Toyota applied to automobile manufacturing, but it has been adapted to suit organizations of all types. For many years it was managed with physical documents, then spreadsheets and email. Today, fortunately, there are applications designed to help support the approach and calculate the results of Lean related improvements. If you are new to the Lean methodology or simply looking for ways to help your organization accelerate improvement, this post will be of use. We’ll answer the questions we get asked most often about Lean technology.

What does Lean Software do?

A Lean software platform supports efforts to improve across the organization. It creates a single version of the truth and forms a repository of knowledge for the organization. In the same way you might use a CRM to track customer and prospect activities, you can track Lean improvement work in the system.

What are the key features?

The essential features of Lean software include:

Opportunity capture – All employees should be able to enter every opportunity for improvement that they uncover.

Task management and workflow – Once a project has been selected for implementation, the system should assign ownership, create tasks, and notify the appropriate people when activity occurs or deadlines are missed.

Configurable dashboards – Many Lean organizations use huddle boards or Kanban boards to organize work and conduct meetings. Lean software digitizes these assets so that they can be configured for the needs of each user.

Reporting – The Lean platform makes it easy to report on the level of engagement, the nature of all projects and activities, and the impact of improvement work.

Search – Instead of starting from scratch with each project, users can search past work to find best practices and mistakes to avoid.

Related: 11 Must-Have Lean Software Features

What are the benefits of Lean software?

A Lean software platform provides many advantages for organizations. Our customers have found that Lean software helps them:

Complete more improvements – The workflow capabilities and general organization make it possible to spot obstacles, react, and get things done faster.

Spread Lean culture – Implementing a technology platform to support Lean signals to the organization that improvement work is important and helps to make kaizen part of everyday operations.

Assess the health of Lean – Lean technology makes it easy for Leaders to get a sense for who is involved in improvement, how many projects are ongoing, and what results have been achieved. They gain valuable insight into which departments and teams are embracing the approach, and which may need more training.

Grow tribal knowledge – With one source for all information about improvement activities, the organization starts to build a repository of what works and what doesn’t. Each project can build on the one before it, resulting in smarter decisions and more significant impact.

What kinds of organizations use Lean software?

Lean software can be used in every sector and by organizations of any size. We have clients in healthcare, education, construction, professional services, software development, and manufacturing. What they all have in common is the goal of implementing Lean in a way that is structured, managed, and measurable.

Related: Lean Software Is Not Just for Manufacturing Companies

Is Lean technology difficult to implement?

Every solution is different, but in most cases, implementation is straightforward. Modern solutions are cloud-based so the work of maintenance is taken on by the vendor. The solution you choose should be user-friendly, configurable, and have a mobile app. While implementation is simple, the bigger challenge is adoption. You should have a good plan for training, engagement, and sustained interaction.

Who in the organization uses Lean software?

The best answer is – everyone. One of the principles of Lean is that improvement is everyone’s responsibility. That means that each person needs access to the solution to be able to suggest opportunities for improvement, work on related projects, and measure success. Of course, the system should be flexible enough to create different roles and authorizations so that each person’s access is appropriate for their job.

We hope these answers to commonly asked questions about Lean software have helped. Implementing this kind of technology is the perfect way to turbo-charge your improvement efforts and keep your team engaged.