How to apply this

Ah! Isn't that a general problem for all those who want to improve things in an organization?
"Don't fix it if it ain't broke" is merely a matter of fear and non understanding what is really going on. You wouldn't fly aircrafts like that, right?

So I see you are in petrochemical industry. How does the organization do this in your plants? Wait till it brakes down? Of course not!

Take this analogy. You would make a survey or assessment to see where the flaws or improvement opportunities are, and make a cost-profit analyses, right?

Well this is the beauty op Makigami: if you make a current state analysis, you would visualize not only your current process, but also its flaws and probably you get a pain in the stomach about the enormous improvement potential. Just do it with the people involved in the process it selves. Do not convince them, they will convince themselves ánd the management...

Does this answer your question?
Good luck!