As a company proceeds down the path of continuous improvement, the vernacular in the organization shifts. It makes sense. Doing new things in new ways will require a way to communicate what is going on concisely. This new “Lean language” can be a challenge to grasp when one is receptive. Read more…
In all likelihood, have not given a lot of thought to how you choose the examples of Lean you use to illustrate points. Whether you are conducting training, or simply trying to build buy-in for process improvement efforts, you should look for examples of Lean that people see on a Read more…
Efficiency, in the strictest sense of the definition is being able to produce something with the minimum amount of time and resources. Efficiency in Lean comes with a few cautions. The first warning regarding efficiency in Lean is to make sure you are using the term the same way that Read more…
Reducing the costs of doing business is one of the main goals of Lean. But, as I worked on the term ‘costs’ for The Continuous Improvement Companion, it struck me that there are a significant number of ways to look at costs. I’ve compiled many of the different ways I’ve Read more…
I’m trying out this Lean podcast to give you another way to ‘sharpen your Lean axe.’ I know you are busy, and can’t spare a whole lot of time keeping up to speed. My goal is to give you a way to hear about Lean ideas on the go. This audio presentation runs Read more…
Overcoming Resistance to Change in a Lean Company The term “resistance to change” is commonly used in discussions about Lean. It simply means that people are set in their ways, and often don’t want to modify their routines. Surprisingly, this change resistance doesn’t just occur when people who like their Read more…
Authority is a formally granted power to make decisions. Authority is generally bestowed upon a position rather than a person. It is different than accountability. For example, a police officer has legal authority while he holds that job. His authority ends when he retires. Authority differs from leadership in that Read more…
Accountability and authority are the yin and yang of leadership. Authority is the state of having power to give directions and make decisions. It is generally granted by an organization to individuals for the purpose of getting results in the areas they are responsible for. With authority comes the burden Read more…
I was just winding down watching some TV on a Sunday night, and it struck me that a lot of people are Lean without even realizing it. To be fair, I have a rather broad definition of Lean. I basically use it interchangeably with “continuous improvement“-constantly doing more with less. Read more…
This may seem obvious, but a brand is the identifier that lets customers know the company producing the product or service they are buying. It distinguishes between the products of different businesses. In many cases, brands are trademarked. To prevent confusion with consumers, other companies are not allowed to use Read more…
A stand-up meeting is a quick team gathering to make sure that the day is properly planned out. Topics generally include the current day’s goals and issues, previous day’s results, ongoing project status, and anything special on the agenda. The stand-up meeting is part of a daily management program, and Read more…
A factory is a discrete building or group of buildings that produces a product or product line. The first image that comes to mind with the term factory is often a car manufacturing facility, like those run by Toyota, a company well-known for its Lean manufacturing. In reality, a factory Read more…