Leader Standard Work and KamishibaiMaking LSW manageable when there’s just too much
Tue, 10/14/2014 - 14:31
A multinational manufacturer was implementing a lean management system in a phased manner within one of its facilities. The target facility operated four comprehensive value streams. The lean management system implementation for the pilot value… Balancing Two Types of Knowledge for Lean TransformationThe ‘aggregate knowledge’ folks vs. the ‘particular knowledge’
Tue, 08/12/2014 - 09:22
I am halfway through reading what I consider (thus far) an important lean book. Alan Robinson and Dean Schroeder’s The Idea-Driven Organization: Unlocking the Power in Bottom-Up Ideas (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2014) is a thoughtful, practical… Bus Schedules and the Lean Management SystemAre you running on time?
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 09:09
What do bus schedules have to do with a lean management system? Quite a bit, even though, obviously, the notion of a bus schedule is more metaphor (or is that analogy?) than reality.
Effective lean management systems are largely constituted by “… Strategy Deployment: Righty Tighty, Lefty LooseyStart with breakthrough objectives and work down to process owner
Wed, 04/02/2014 - 17:48
I remember, years ago, watching my oldest child struggle to loosen a bolt. This was one of those all-too-few, brief, and shining child-rearing moments where I could easily and quickly share some trusty words of wisdom.
“Righty tighty, lefty loosey… Newsflash: Behavioral Benefits of 5S Are Clinically ‘Proven’Disorganized surroundings hamper self-regulating behavior
Thu, 02/27/2014 - 13:01
Larry Loucka, a close friend and colleague, recently pointed me to a Feb. 16, 2014, article in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Now, before you roll your eyes and give me the WSJ-isn’t known-for-getting-the-lean-thing-right look, hear me out. What… Build the Lean Management System, and the Behaviors Will Come Not exactly
Thu, 12/05/2013 - 17:36
OK, I know that what I’m about to say may sound cynical, but 20 years of personal, hard-knock lean experience tells me that this is reality. And most folks I think would, or at least should (I hope), agree with me.
The majority of companies… Respect the ProcessAnd it will respect you
Wed, 10/02/2013 - 16:14
We’ve all undoubtedly had the notion of respect for people drilled into our heads. Of course, it’s easy to speak about such a principle. Much harder to live it. In any event, let me humbly add another recipient of our deserved respect: Process.… Balancing Two Types of Visual Controls Within Lean ManagementWhen your company values outputs, not process
Mon, 07/29/2013 - 16:54
Some folks may wonder what the heck I mean by “two types.” Within the context of a lean management system, we can make a distinction between visual process performance (VPP) and visual process adherence (VPA).
Visual process performance (VPP).… Embrace UglyAnd get the job done
Wed, 05/08/2013 - 16:51
As best as I can recall, I’ve never coined a phrase with any staying power. Until now. And, my phrase has been purposely captured on a T-shirt, by someone other than a close relative. It’s not quite like having my words recorded indelibly in marble… Accountability’s Four Questions and Two Tools The nuts and bolts of maintenance <em>kaizen</em>
Mon, 04/15/2013 - 09:58
Lean-oriented questions tend to be straightforward but not necessarily easy. The same goes for the four basic questions around the daily accountability process, the process by which leaders facilitate effective follow-through.
The follow-through…
