Lean Newsletter Archive, Sep 2010

Every year, as my beloved Chicago Bears prepare to play yet another disappointing season, I start missing my childhood home in the suburbs of the Windy City. Family and friends. The sports teams. The Italian beef. Oh, the Italian beef….

Thinking about the tradeoffs between my current home in Seattle, and Chicago got me thinking of how people make complicated decisions, such as where to live. It inspired me to change things up a little in this issue of the Maximize Your Lean Success newsletter. I’ve created a Decision Matrix Template and ‘How-To’ video for you. Read the featured article section below for more info.

This Month’s Highlights

• What’s New?: I am a guest on The Lean Nation radio show on Thursday, September 9.
• Featured Products: We’ve got two specials. The first is a half-off coupon for our Lean Trivia Game (PowerPoint format). The second is even better. It’s an offer for a free hour of remote Lean consulting!

As always, best wishes on your Lean journey.

I will be a guest on The Lean Nation radio show on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 4:00-5:00 Eastern time. It is broadcast on 790 AM Talk and Business in Rhode Island, but you can also listen to the show live at 790business.com. Feel free to call in at 401.437.5000 or toll free at 888.345.0790. If you can’t make it, be sure to download a podcast after the show.

The Decision Matrix

Instead of an article like you are used to, I’ve created a new tool for you to use in your continuous improvement efforts. It is a Decision Matrix Template, with instructions built right into the Excel^® file. To make it even easier to train people on using this tool, I’ve created a short video as well.

Both are posted on our Decision Matrix Template page. I’ll leave the form unlocked for at least a week, but after that, I’ll be making it available to Velaction’s registered users only. Since many of you are already users, simply log in to download it at your convenience.

If you have not registered, get the Decision Matrix Template right away before I set it for users only, or sign up for a membership at www.Velaction.com. Registration is free, and takes just 30 seconds.

This month, we have two specials.

First, we just launched our downloadable Lean Trivia Game, and are offering it to our subscribers for half-off. To get this great discount, use the coupon code SEPMYLSLTG at checkout.

We also are trying to change the way you think about Lean Consulting. We are offering a free hour of our remote consulting after we discuss your needs. Not every problem is big enough to require that we come in to help you. Modern technology has given us new ways to help you find solutions to a broader array of problems. Act fast-space is limited.

Office Space Meets the Real World

Find a Factory Whisperer

The Unforgiving Minute

3 Ways to Sneak Lean into Your Company

Why Daily Management is Like a Petri Dish for Lean

• Lean Consulting
• Lean Training
• Lean Products
• Lean Services
• Lean Store

Jeff is also the author of Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean? Building the bridge from job satisfaction to corporate profit. This unique book provides a blueprint for not only surviving, but also thriving in a Lean company. Plus it's like two books in one. The first half provides an overview about how to find job satisfaction in a continuous improvement culture. The second half addresses over a hundred problems that people face when they are asked to do more with less. Whaddaya Mean? is available at www.Amazon.com or at Velaction’s Lean Store.