Shaping Lean Teaching Methods: Recognizing Lean as a Journey vs. A Set of Tools

Part 1: Learning Lean International audience The Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) was founded in 2018 in South Africa. Its mandate is to develop manufacturing executive leadership capabilities in Africa.Academics that teach and engage on lean transformation journeys recognize that lean management systems are a foundational requirement for sustainable lean capability development. And yet, management practitioners (and consultants) often fail to recognize this. Rather, they see lean as a toolkit applied for quick organizational turnarounds and short-term operational or supply chain management gains.This paper explores the lean teaching methodology adopted at TWIMS which contextualises the short-term elements of lean within a long-term journey of continuous improvement. The paper explains that such teaching methodologies are vital if students are to implement lean strategies in their organisations that last beyond the initial gains created by short-term lean tools. Finally, the paper finds that TWIMS’ teaching methodology is successful in creating a more holistic comprehension of lean among students, which instils a greater appreciation for lean as a long-term strategy.