Lean Insight and Product Reviews
Continuous Improvement Webinar I had a chance to listen in on Dr. Greg Jacobson and Mark Graban of KaiNexus as they gave a very informative webinar last week for Gemba Academy about “Leadership Behaviors that Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement.” They laid out 25 leadership behaviors that are essential for all leaders to abide by as they work towards encouraging continuous improvement in their organization. You…
Well That’s Just Clever One of the most important skills to learn in Lean is being able to identify value from waste. Lean relies on waste reduction as a matter of progression and improvement. No matter what type of business or organization you are, if you can’t tell them apart, your chances of continuous improvement are slim. Muda- Japanese word meaning “futility; uselessness; idleness; superfluity; waste; wastage;…
The pursuit of perfection is often met with obstacles that attempt to break down our path. The beauty of the lean path though, is there is always a tool for our broken path. We may get diverted, but with lean in our pocket we have the ability to continue on with our pursuit, without looking back. The gemba walk for instance is a perfect example of how…
The Path to a 5S Behavior Change Changing the behavior in an individual is one of the most difficult tasks in our nature. The path to a 5S behavior change is no different. Our built in stubbornness has a tendency to block out even the most obvious benefits associated with a change in behavior. It effects all phases of our life from our health to our occupation.…
Continuous Improvement and Behavior-Based Safety Continuous improvement methods have revolutionized the manufacturing industry for years now thanks to the Toyota Production System (TPS) and the many innovators that have come along the way. While these methods are sometimes interlinked with each other they often leave out a way to integrate other methods of improving performance that aren’t in line with the traditional TPS ideology. However, a manufacturing…
When discussing lean concepts and strategies, much of the focus has always been on the processes, the tools and the concepts. Too often lean managers forget about the most important part of successfully implementing lean strategies, the people themselves. Respect for people should be at the heart of any organization that is attempting to make the types of improvements lean strategies promise. While often ignored, some people…
With more and more companies implementing lean processes to improve the way business is done, it is important to take some time to look at how this process can be improved. Many companies attempt to run as a lean facility, only to find that they aren’t making the progress that they had hoped. Starting down the path toward a lean facility is difficult, but it can be…
Add Value to Your Life Are you a lean expert from 9-5, Monday through Friday, but come home to an empty fridge, cluttered garage and only after waiting in traffic far to long, listening to the same talk radio station day in and day out? Do you wait until you’re completely out of something to replace it, like shampoo or shaving cream? How about your yard work?…
Working as a manager requires that people become excellent communicators. To do a good job they are required to clearly convey instructions and expectations. They need to be able to inspire people and get them to follow the policies and procedures of a company, which requires them to communicate effectively. What many managers forget, however, is that part of great communication is being able to listen. When…
Implementing lean strategies in any company is difficult, but it is something that most companies agree is worth doing. The problem is when companies do it improperly, the implementation fails and they end up losing out on the time and money invested. This can be discouraging for everyone involved at every level, and it can also make it more difficult for future attempts at change and improvement…