Implementing lean in a manufacturing facility is much like playing guitar (or golf, if you prefer a sports analogy): A lot of people do it, but few do it well.

Still, for manufacturers seeking to improve their productivity, quality, safety and cost competitiveness, it's worth the effort.

The key is to avoid the common pitfalls.

One pitfall in particular — failure to create stable process flow — plagues 95 percent of all lean initiatives, according to continuous-improvement guru Lonnie Wilson.

For more, read "Wanna Sabotage Your Lean Implementation Effort? Try This."