Continuous improvement requires teamwork, and that means working together to solve quality problems. In a poor culture, people blame each other for mistakes, or have a ‘that’s not my problem’ attitude. But when teams are focused on continuous improvement, they help each other eliminate problems once and for all.
The terms “back office” and “front office” refer to customer contact. Those that have direct customer contact are the front office. Others who work in administrative roles are the “back office”. The terms originally came from the physical layout of an office building, but with the advent of improved communication, Read more…
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems are systems linked to a computerized control with an automated method of retrieving items from a designated storage location. The principle is that the machine rather than a person does the searching and retrieving. Most AS/RS units make significant use of vertical space, leading to Read more…
Data collection is a big part of any problem solving effort, and problem solving is what Lean is all about. So, it follows that the people who make the most significant gains in their continuous improvement efforts are those that can effectively turn data into actionable information. Yep. That means Read more…
Policy deployment is a process of turning the strategic goals of an organization into actionable tasks at the frontline of an organization. This systematic approach to leadership clearly defines the path to success. One of the tools used in effective policy deployment is the Policy Deployment Action Plan. Get Our Read more…
The Production Preparation Process (3P) is a powerful means of taking a big-picture look at how a product is designed and manufactured. It guides teams through the creative process of generating ideas, and then whittles the ideas down to one that will be implemented. A 3P project can focus on Read more…
This is the final question in a series of five questions I use to do a quick assessment of a company’s progress in its Lean efforts, as well as its receptiveness to it. (Read the fourth question here.) The fifth and final question is Do people thoroughly understand problems before Read more…
This is the fourth question in a series of five questions I use to do a quick assessment of a company’s progress in its Lean efforts, as well as its receptiveness to it. (Read the third question here.) The fourth question is Can frontline leaders name their 3 biggest problems Read more…
Get Our Best Values with Component Bundles Bought individually, our training materials are a good value. But we don’t stop there. We offer an even better value when you buy our module group bundles. When you have very targeted training needs, these packages offer the most cost effective way to Read more…
A 100% inspection is exactly what it sounds like. It is a check on every single piece of work. The inspection can be done on both physical products on the shop floor, or information in an office setting. Most 100% inspections originate from a few main sources: Government regulations. Some Read more…
This is the third question in a series of five questions I use to do a quick assessment of a company’s progress in its Lean efforts, as well as its receptiveness to it. (Read the second question here.) The third question is Can frontline leaders predict what they will accomplish Read more…
This is the second of a series of questions I posted a few days ago that I use to get an initial read on a company that wants help with continuous improvement. While the questions don’t give a complete picture, they certainly help me determine which rocks to kick over, Read more…