Balrog, I searched the “Lean Processing” phrase and it powerfully reminded me of why I'm such a Dilbert fan. My first impression is that “Lean Processing” is essentially a reincarnation/repackaging of Zero Defects, Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, and every other industry efficiency fad from the past few decades.

Personally, I think some of the ideas at the core of this efficiency philosophy may be sound. BUT...management usually adopts the vocabulary of the philosophy as window dressing and plows ahead with their own defective understanding of the ideas. The result, far from making things more efficient, is often the introduction of painful, time-wasting procedures designed to prove productivity rather than increase actual productivity. Further, I suspect some of your superiors' jobs depend on them not understanding what they're trying to implement.

I can think of few things more soul-crushing than what you're going through.

My suggestion: try a two-pronged approach, psychological and professional. You have the rage to deal with (frankly, I think rage is a perfectly rational reaction to your situation as I imagine it based on the information you've given). Work is the second target. Is there any way you can turn the tables on your supervisors? Can you exploit a knowledge of their version of “Lean Processing” to shift the pressure off yourself and onto them? An analytical “Memo of Record” from someone on the “line” written to the right person could transform your professional situation. Yes, it's risky. But, how much risk is there in doing nothing?

Anyway, those are the thoughts of someone who has yet to recover from a bureaucratically crushed soul.