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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…
There’s an old expression about ‘getting into the weeds.’ Most people think it comes from golfers getting off the fairway into the thick stuff on the side, or from fishermen getting their lines tangled up in underwater growth. Regardless of the origin, in meetings in a work environment, it means Read more…
Smooth, efficient communication helps business management systems thrive. Many of the structures that we recommend having in place are specifically designed to help streamline the communication process. Morning standup meetings get everyone on the same page at the start of a shift. Daily management clarifies expectations and what the current Read more…
Lean afflictions abound in the continuous improvement workplace. One such ailment is Work Pace Disorder. With this disease, people cannot keep a consistent pace to their work. Typically, their pace depends upon the size of the pile in front of them, but it can also be impacted by other factors. Read more…
Many Lean afflictions reduce the effectiveness of your continuous improvement efforts. One such affliction is Selective Hearing Syndrome. In this disease, people filter out information that doesn’t support their views or that involves things they don’t want to do. They also interpret the meaning of this information exclusively based on 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…
Some people are so convinced of things that no amount of data can influence their opinion. The presentation of data contrary to their current belief actually repels them and makes them become more firmly entrenched in their own position. This is one of several Lean afflictions. There is actually a Read more…
This Lean affliction is characterized by seeing things as useful only in a single, prescribed use. In many cases, this is true. In some cases, this is not the case. As a simple, real world example, a plastic milk jug can be cut to form a scoop. You can use Read more…
Workspaces work best when there is minimal clutter, and everything has a specific purpose. This goal is derailed by hoarderism, one of several Lean afflictions that can prevent your company from reaching its potential. Hoarderism is the inability to throw anything out, or even send it to the red tag Read more…
Another of several Lean afflictions, Squirrel Chasing Syndrome is the inability to remain focused on the goal or task at hand when something enticing comes into view. This generally means abandoning the current task and switching to the new task without any real planning. This form of distraction is harmful Read more…
There are a set of ailments that afflict many people when attempting to implement Lean. One such ailment is the aversion to seeing a flat surface unencumbered by clutter, known as FSS or Flat Surface Syndrome. Some people have a tendency to see an open surface as an invitation to Read more…
The moonshine shop is a team in Lean manufacturing environments that specializes in pushing the envelop of what the company is doing in continuous improvement. It focuses more on experimentation and conceptual work than addressing specific problems. It is named for the similarity to old moonshiners who would set up Read more…