They Just Don't Get It!

Once you normalize patching over solving, the culture shifts from "fix it right" to "make it work somehow." The progression is predictable: 1. Problem occurs 2. Quick fix is applied 3. Problem returns 4. Another quick fix is layered on 5. Quick fix becomes permanent workaround 6. Workaround becomes "just how we do things" Ever created a new SOP after one bad incident—or tweaked a process without fixing the real bottleneck? These changes look like progress, but they're just band-aids that eventually become standard practice. Before rushing into action, pause to understand the true source of the issue. Ask yourself: "Will this fix prevent the problem from happening again, or will it just help us react faster when it does?" And remember: the shop floor isn't a backdrop—it's the source. Go to the floor as a learner, not a tourist. Walk with curiosity. Look for disconnects between how the work is supposed to happen and how it actually happens.

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