The Maryland World Class Consortia and Lean Government
Governments at all levels across the country are struggling to maintain services that are responsive, high quality, and low cost. Maryland is no exception. The financial pressure to do more with less has never been greater than it is today. Government officials and employees are using all the tools they know to close the gap. But most have yet to learn about an approach that private industry has been using for decades – an approach that can produce dramatic results: Lean Government.
What is “lean”?
“Lean” is a continuous improvement philosophy aimed at better satisfying customers and eliminating waste in processes. It relies on simple, common sense principles to create a culture where everyone becomes a part of solving problems. Lean improves any organization’s results for customers, the organization itself, and employees.
What “lean” is not:
- Lean is not a management fad. Lean has a proven track record of success going back more than half a century.
- Lean is not just for manufacturing. Lean started with Toyota. But leading organizations of all types have made dramatic improvements using lean: Dell, Southwest Airlines, Capital One, Cleveland Clinic, the City of Jacksonville, and many more.
- Lean is not top-down or temporary. Lean requires the involvement and support of leaders, but the engine is people. Lean engages everyone in the organization to improve processes, across all functions and levels. Lean is a journey, not a destination: once you start, you don’t stop.
- Lean is not about headcount reduction. A core principle of lean is Respect for People. Using lean to reduce workforce is counterproductive to lean’s ultimate aim: a positive, efficient, and customer-focused culture.
What is “lean government”?
Lean government is lean principles and tools applied to the processes of government. As in other sectors, public and private, lean helps government leaders and employees in a number of ways:
- Map their processes and better understand how they work
- Quickly identify problems and implement improvements
- Build a culture of continuous improvement
Lean is a systematic method of improving service to customers/constituents, increasing the capacity of government, and lowering costs. Lean has documented dramatic benefits across all branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative), all functions (administration, education, law enforcement, public works), and all levels (federal, state, county, local).
See Examples of Lean Government:
Minnesota Commission Calls For Expanding Lean Deployment
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Speeds Permitting
Minnesota State Services for the Blind Radically Improves Service
Connecticut Governors Redouble Commitment to Lean Government
California's Ventura County Service Excellence Program Delivers Strong Results
New York's Executive of Erie County Running His County Like a Business
Jacksonville's Top Cop Wins a Third Term with Lean
To Learn More:
On Wednesday, 3 August, the MWCC will host the Maryland Lean Government Conference at the BWI Marriott. The session will include an overview of lean and lean government, case study examples of lean government, a description of services offered by the Consortia, and tips for getting started. You can learn more about this event and register for the conference here.
You can also read more about lean government in an article in Governing magazine.
About the MWCC and Lean Government:
Since 1996, the Maryland World Class Consortia has helped organizations of all types understand performance improvement methods to enhance competitiveness and grow the economy. We began with a focus on manufacturers, but have expanded our scope over 15-plus years to include other segments important to Maryland’s economic strength: small business, biotechnology, health care, education, and more.
Given the clear need in Maryland and across the country to do more with less, along with lean's proven capacity to deliver results and the MWCC's expertise in this area, the Maryland World Class Consortia is proud to offer services and support to government agencies and departments of all types and at all levels.
For additional information, contact the Consortia's Director.