Lean New Year’s Resolutions for a Recession

For the past two years, I have posted lists of Lean New Year’s Resolutions. The lists from 2006 and 2007 could apply to any situation. This year I decided to create a list particularly relevant to our current economic problems.

So here are my resolutions, in no particular order:

I will regard my knowledgeable, experienced employees as assets and will not lay them off when business is slow.
I will use the downturn as an opportunity to improve operations.
I will attempt to cut costs through process improvement rather than outsourcing or offshoring.
I will use the downturn as an opportunity to provide additional training to employees.
I will solicit ideas from my employees as to how we can cope with the recession.
I will seek to maintain good relations with my suppliers despite my ordering less from them.
I will communicate with my customers to find out how I can best provide them with value during difficult times.
I will use the downturn as an opportunity to expand my knowledge of lean by attending a conference.
I will use the downturn as an opportunity to expand my employees’ knowledge of lean by having them attend a conference.
(Shameless plug:) I will use the downturn to expand my knowledge of lean by reading some new lean books (and sharing them with my employees).

Add your resolutions below. Happy New Year!