5. If TPS/Lean is so great then why are so many companies struggling to get results?

As I mentioned above there are a lot of potential reasons why and no single easy cause to pinpoint. First it takes a lot of executive effort, support, and direction to get the program up and running. This country has a bias for the short term and inability to stay on one topic for very long. Second by adhering to what I call the tools of lean rather than principles of TPS companies may put forth a lot of effort but not get the results they desire. Unless you actually can reduce cost, improve quality, enhance productivity, and shorten you lead-time and earn a profit then you are not really lean despite how many tools you may apply. Owning a couple of sets of golf clubs does not make you a good player. Thirdly no one from Toyota ever said that this was easy or a quick thing to do.