Lean Leadership Mistakes That Stall Change (Webinar Replay Ask Marks Anything)
Replay from our live April 7 webinar.
Most Lean initiatives stall because leaders chase tools instead of building capability. In this rare unfiltered session, Mark DeLuzio teams up with seasoned transformation veteran Mark Forkun for a blunt conversation on the realities of Lean, why most organizations fake it, and what it takes to get results that last.
From the hidden failure of matrix org charts to the silent sabotage of cost accounting, this webinar replay is a wake-up call for anyone tired of surface-level improvement. You’ll hear how Toyota’s true strength isn’t what’s on the walls, but what’s in the minds. You’ll also get hard-won insight on problem solving, value stream management, and the dysfunction of Lean “audits” that create motion without impact.
Plus, Mark Forkun shares a preview of his new book and the habits he believes matter most for sustaining Lean results.
Timestamps
- 00:02:10 Why there’s no silver bullet in Lean
- 00:04:30 What you don’t see is what matters — Culture, mindset, and invisible systems > visible tools.
- 00:07:40 Value stream management vs. functional silos
- 00:13:00 How Lean accounting drives better decisions — Traditional cost systems sabotage transformation.
- 00:24:00 Cost of poor quality is hidden everywhere — Why finance must stop tracking irrelevant metrics.
- 00:25:10 Lean ≠ TPS
- 00:33:00 Standard work and problem solving
- 00:47:00 Philosophy and principles lead the way
- 00:54:00 Why Gemba boards fail and audits backfire — Most Lean efforts are theater, not transformation.
- 01:00:00 Tech without waste elimination = faster waste — AI and ERP as enablers, not solutions.