Work with Japanese Lean consultants for any length of time, and you will almost certainly hear the term “concrete head”. It is a derogatory term used to indicate people who are generally opposed to not only making changes, but even discussing them. People who are extremely susceptible to displaying this Read more…
A lot of the things that are required in a continuous improvement culture demand self-discipline, commitment, and some degree of sacrifice. Leaders who mandate those things from their teams while not doing the same themselves will lose the respect of their team. In practice, this means that leaders will have Read more…
Changeitis is an innate resistance to change, regardless of the merits of the new situation. It is one of many Lean afflictions that hamper the full potential of continuous improvement efforts. Some people get set in their ways and oppose change on general principle. These people might even complain about Read more…
Unlike medical allergies, the Lean affliction of Dirt Allergies has no physical component to it. It is simply a condition in which people are extremely reluctant to get hands or clothing dirty. This condition is most common in leaders who are unwilling to get involved in production processes, or in Read more…
Strong communication is an important ingredient for effective teams, and continuous improvement relies heavily upon teamwork. Some people, though, suffer from Clarity Impairment, a Lean affliction in which they are unable to provide information without ambiguity. This might fall into the realm of just not making sense with what they Read more…
Having the support of your team is critical to the development of your continuous improvement culture. In most cases, that support, or lack of support is very obvious. When a person is on-board with a change, even if they are not a cheerleader for it, they tend to be open Read more…
“Go to Gemba” is a frequent refrain in Lean. It has two basic meanings. The first is that leaders should get down to the shop floor regularly to see what is happening. The second is meaning is to keep people from debating provable facts. When a discussion starts about something Read more…
Half-life is generally a scientific term that denotes the time it takes for half of something to decay, or otherwise degrade. It is commonly used to describe the time it takes for half of the unstable atoms in radioactive material to decay. It also used in the drug industry to Read more…
In the latest episode of our “Ramblings of a Continuous Improvement Coach” video program, I talk about the 5 levels of teamwork. Now teamwork is a common buzzword in most organizations, but there is often a disconnect between what the parties involved thinks that means. So, this video clarifies the Read more…
Many universities have standalone Lean programs, or have it integrated into its curriculum. University-earned credentials tend to carry a bit more weight than private companies. While there are many universities in these categories, there are a handful that are more well-known for their programs than others. Purdue University https://www.purdue.edu/leansixsigmaonline/ University Read more…
Toyota is ground zero for modern Lean. It is where all of the historical advances in manufacturing technology and operational leadership and supply chain management came together in what is recognizable as the current version of Lean. Taiichi Ohno is widely credited with being the most instrumental person in creating Read more…
The Shingo Institute is part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. Its namesake is Shigeo Shingo, the man responsible for documenting the early improvements made by Toyota and spreading Lean to the western world. While the Shingo Institute provides training, its most notable activity is awarding the Shingo Read more…