Finding the Weakest LinkHow productivity was held hostage by a 1-in. hose
Thu, 06/16/2016 - 14:07
Here’s a “tales from the real world” extract from our book, Manufacturing Money (Amazon Digital, 2015). It offers an example of the “five focusing steps” to improvement, with a particular focus on step one, identify the constraint; and step two,… Purposeful Problem SolvingPractical tools are useless without these three drivers
Tue, 01/19/2016 - 16:37
We all have problems in life, in business, everywhere. Many of us have “solving problems” as the key component of our daily roles. Management and any form of supervision only exist in order to help solve problems. If problems disappeared, a great… Six Layers of Resistance, Part 3Obstacles to implementing the solution, and unverbalized fear
Wed, 01/06/2016 - 12:39
In part one of this three-part series, we looked at the first two layers of resistance to change. Part two looked at the second two layers. Here we look at the final two layers, obstacles to implementing the proposed solution, and unverbalized fear… Six Layers of Resistance, Part 2Disagreeing on the solution, and undesirable side effects
Tue, 01/05/2016 - 11:55
In part one of this three-part series, we moved through the initial and often overlooked layers of resistance: first, why change; and second, how to overcome disagreement on the nature of the problem. Here we move on to the next two layers, namely… Six Layers of Resistance, Part 1‘Why change?’ and disagreeing on the problem
Mon, 01/04/2016 - 11:46
This is the first part of a three-part series on the “six layers of resistance.” It’s based on the work of Eliyahu Goldratt, who has now passed away. Goldratt was the originator of a body of work known as the “theory of constraints.” His… Five Tools for Ensuring Quality and Reducing Costs in ManufacturingIterate or die
Wed, 08/26/2015 - 13:39
Customers want more value from you as a supplier. They want it with shorter lead times. They want your innovation in the product, and they don’t want to pay for any of it.
I often hear the declaration, “We can’t reduce costs anymore!” from… Seven Levels of Project EvolutionA project can be a product launch, a cost-reduction activity, or introducing a training system
Tue, 08/11/2015 - 16:58
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very manager, business owner, or executive has had to deal with projects that fail to deliver. Our days are filled with activities that are the consequences of poorly conceived, poorly executed, and poorly tested projects—most noticeably during a…
