Which Lean process is designed to align resources and strategic goals across the organization?

Which Lean process is designed to align resources and strategic goals across the organization?

• A. Jidoka
• B. Kanban
• C. Hoshin Kanri
• D. Kaizen

Answer: (C)

Hoshin Kanri is the process that brings strategic aims into day-to-day action by aligning resources with the organization's goals. It starts with setting a small number of clear, long-range objectives and translates them into annual targets, projects, budgets, and metrics. Through a structured catchball feedback loop, plans at every level are refined and synchronized so that leaders, managers, and front-line teams are all pulling in the same direction. This ensures resources—people, time, and money—are directed to initiatives that support the strategy. The other options serve different purposes: Jidoka emphasizes built-in quality and stopping when a defect appears; Kanban provides a signaling system to manage workflow and inventory; Kaizen focuses on continuous, incremental improvement.

Hoshin Kanri is the process that brings strategic aims into day-to-day action by aligning resources with the organization's goals. It starts with setting a small number of clear, long-range objectives and translates them into annual targets, projects, budgets, and metrics. Through a structured catchball feedback loop, plans at every level are refined and synchronized so that leaders, managers, and front-line teams are all pulling in the same direction. This ensures resources—people, time, and money—are directed to initiatives that support the strategy. The other options serve different purposes: Jidoka emphasizes built-in quality and stopping when a defect appears; Kanban provides a signaling system to manage workflow and inventory; Kaizen focuses on continuous, incremental improvement.