Lean Promotion Office
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A lean promotion office is an internal group responsible for coordinating, supporting, and sustaining lean transformation efforts across an organization.
Definition
A Lean Promotion Office (LPO) is an internal organization responsible for coordinating and supporting lean transformation activities across the enterprise. The LPO typically provides: training and certification for lean methods, change agents who facilitate improvement events, coordination to spread good practices between areas, tracking and reporting of transformation progress, and liaison with external sensei or consultants. The LPO reports to senior leadership and serves as the organizational center of gravity for continuous improvement. Mature organizations may evolve the LPO into a smaller center of excellence as lean capability becomes embedded in line operations.
Examples
A diversified manufacturer created a corporate Lean Promotion Office with 12 full-time staff. They developed standard training curriculum, certified internal facilitators, coordinated annual improvement targets with business units, and managed relationships with external consultants. Plant-level lean coordinators reported functionally to the LPO.
Key Points
- Central coordination prevents fragmented, inconsistent improvement efforts
- Develops and deploys internal capability rather than depending on consultants
- Reports to senior leadership to ensure strategic alignment
- Should evolve toward obsolescence as capability embeds in line operations
Common Misconceptions
The LPO does improvement for the organization. The LPO develops capability and coordinates efforts. Line operations must own their improvement; the LPO supports but doesn't substitute.
Bigger LPO means more improvement. LPO size should match organizational maturity. Large LPOs can create dependency; the goal is embedded capability, not central empire.