--- title: Maintaining Your Lean Culture with Operator Training description: Lean helps you attain your goals using easy-to-apply tools and approaches. Here’s how to train your employees to get off the sidelines and into the Lean game. image: https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxif9RM34.png --- Learn more about how to choose the right ERP with our ERP Evaluations Series. [Learn More.](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) # Maintaining Your Lean Culture with Operator Training By [Joseph Timmins](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) June 7, 2017 1 Minute Read [Lean](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/what-is-lean-manufacturing) focuses on efficiency, productivity, and workplace morale by eliminating activities that don’t add value to your manufacturing process. Lean helps companies attain their goals using tools and approaches that are easy to apply, which reduces waste and costs. ***They just make sense!*** Specific benefits of Lean in manufacturing include: - Improved quality/fewer defects - Shorter lead times - Reduced inventory - Better work environment - Improved employee morale **Here’s how to properly train your employees to get off the sidelines and into the Lean game:** ## ![4-colorful-puzzle-pieces.jpg](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/4-colorful-puzzle-pieces.jpg?width=256&name=4-colorful-puzzle-pieces.jpg)Build a Strong Management Team A strong, well-defined management team is essential. This core team should be responsible for seeking out areas of improvement, share responsibility for implementing/maintaining Lean, and communicating with your entire organization. CEO-level endorsement is vital, too – if your CEO isn’t on board, don’t bother starting. ## Educate Your Employees on Lean Principles Your employees must understand Lean concepts, the goal of eliminating waste, and how to execute. Without this understanding, employees will be lost, ineffective, or discouraged. Education prevents this. ## Recognize Types of Waste It’s important to identify what constitutes waste (e.g., overproduction, excess inventory, scrap, downtime, etc.). Categorizing activities is the first step in developing ways to eliminate waste. Having Lean-educated employees who own a process do this categorization is the best way to get positive long-term results. [![Lean blogs CTA rectangle](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/420229/87f67436-fdf1-4988-b6a0-f44d7cb0abe6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/420229/87f67436-fdf1-4988-b6a0-f44d7cb0abe6) ## Document New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for New Processes Standard operating procedures are the culmination of “say what you do.” New SOPs define Lean processes and ensure consistency of how things get done. SOPs can include inventory tracking, quality control, RMAs, CARs, setups, machine instructions, and more. Documentation can also be beneficial to training, as employees are on-boarded or cross-trained. ## Choose the Right ERP System [Selecting an intuitive, easy-to-use ERP system](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/choosing-your-ideal-erp-solution) that fits well into your organization will provide clarity for your business; this supports Lean by providing quantitative data and allowing your people to make informed decisions based on numbers versus anecdotal guesses. Have questions about how Lean practices and processes can work for you, or how you can go about getting an ERP system for your business? Please [contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact) the experts at Acuity for more information. #### Joseph Timmins Author ## Recommended For You [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Images/Colleagues%20standing%20in%20a%20data%20center%20in%20front%20of%20drawings%20of%20charts.jpeg)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/decisions-based-on-data-not-alternative-facts) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) 1 Min Read ### [Decisions Based on Data – Not Alternative Facts](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/decisions-based-on-data-not-alternative-facts) [Joseph Timmins March 7, 2017](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/ERP_puzzle_piece_photo.jpg)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/applying-lean-to-your-front-office) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) [lean](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean) 1 Min Read ### [Applying Lean to Your Front Office](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/applying-lean-to-your-front-office) [Joseph Timmins December 30, 2016](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxiez3Q04.png)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/conducting-levelized-production-in-a-lean-environment) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) [lean](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean) 2 Min Read ### [Conducting Levelized Production in a Lean Environment](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/conducting-levelized-production-in-a-lean-environment) [Joseph Timmins March 2, 2017](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) ![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png) 125 Whipple Street Providence, Rhode Island 02908 [401.243.8480](tel:401-243-8480) 877.361.6534 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us)