Building an organization that effectively uses teams throughout its operation is challenging in and of itself. Just trying to establish teams is unlikely to do much for introducing lean manufacturing. Good teamwork in the front office and on the shop floor does take training and development, but it is during the development and transformation to lean manufacturing that creates both a need and an environment for teams.

Establishing product- based work arrangements make individual processing steps dependent on another. In such a production environment, individuals must be able to work as a team. Producing only to customer requirements takes out work-in-process and demand producing and delivering high quality throughout the production chain. These types of changes lay the groundwork for individuals to become part of teams. The natural progression is to incorporate team building into the implementation of lean manufacturing.