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Gotta Go Lean Blog

Seven Wastes of Lean Leadership and Taiichi Ohno’s Seven Wastes

Discussions about continuous improvement frequently mention the term ‘waste’ which is anything that doesn’t add value. But how often are the seven wastes in Lean discussed with respect to managing teams? Leadership, like operations or any other process, uses resources. Doesn’t it make sense to figure out ways to lead teams more effectively by using the least amount of time and energy? In an attempt to take a look at this subject through a familiar Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Lean Problems: Why Not Dream Big?

Why Not Dream Big? As I was driving the other day, a license plate frame caught my eye. It said something like “I’m driving my silver dream.” The car was nice – a Japanese import that probably ran about $20K new, but has been out of production now for several years. As I sat behind this car at a red light, I realized that there were two ways to interpret the ’silver dream.’ The first Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Lean Six Sigma Staffing. 8 Traits of People Who Excel at Continuous Improvement & Boost Productivity

Conventional wisdom supports the belief that people with formal Lean and Six Sigma training are the ones that are best at making process improvements. While having skills from the Lean ‘toolbox’ is certainly a big plus, it is not the only thing that matters. Often, the personality traits of an individual play a much bigger role in improving operations in the office or on the shop floor. So what are the characteristics of someone who is Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Value the Customer: That Didn’t Seem Faster…

So today I went to the bank to put something in my safe deposit box. While I was there, I was given a refresher course on how to value the customer. Unfortunately, my lesson came from observing a poor example. In the past, I needed to show ID and sign in on a form. The whole process is slow, and needed a healthy dose of kaizen to speed it up. And that’s exactly what they tried Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Andon: Lean Superhero

I had a rather random thought this morning. It would not be much fun to work with a superhero, especially one with super-speed. Imagine the conversation with your boss. “Jeff, you’ve been doing OK, but you just can’t seem to keep up with the day shift. Superman and the Flash always seem to get more work done than you do…” (For those of you who never read a comic book, they both get around pretty Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Benefits, Lean or Otherwise, Depend on Perspective

When managers explain Lean to their employees, they always list the benefits. Lean improves productivity. It makes quality better. It gets products out the door faster. All true. But despite those benefits, Lean sometimes makes employees dissatisfied. Why? Let’s look at it from the perspective of my daughter when she very young. I’m a gadget guy. I can’t put down those SkyMall magazines when I fly, and can’t walk past those ‘As Seen on TV’ Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Competition at Work. How Lean Principles Can Help.

When you hear the term ‘competition’, you mind likely immediately pictures two companies competing for market share. Google and Microsoft locked in an epic battle. Oil companies fighting over drilling rights. Car dealers offering ever-sweeter incentives. But that’s only part of the competition at work you are likely involved in. You are also competing with your coworkers. In some cases it is for promotions and raises. Other times it can be for choice assignments or Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Lean Workplace: Group Dynamics, Basketball, and Lean Projects

I frequently like to unwind by playing some basketball at a local gym.  Actually, to be a little more accurate, I play something that is vaguely recognizable as basketball. You’d think that with my years of experience at process improvement, I’d learn how to fix my jump shot. The other day, my wife asked me about the rules for these pickup games. I hadn’t really put much thought into it before then, but it got me Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

You’re in! Nope. Just kidding. Quality control in administrative processes.

I saw a story today about an accidental email that informed nearly 29,000 applicants to a California university that they had been accepted. The problem was that they hadn’t. The news report focused on the impact this error had on the prospective students. While their experience was far from fun, there is another group that will feel a much greater effect for a much longer time. The team working in the admissions office will be dealing with Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Marketing: Lean and Your Brand

I was freshening up my draft of the brand entry for The Continuous Improvement Companion (click this link to go to its online Lean Dictionary), and thought it would make a good, quick post for the Gotta Go Lean blog. What came to mind? The fact that most people don’t immediately associate Lean with marketing. Lean, in truth, can have a tremendous impact on your brand. A huge part of the strength of a brand is the perception that Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Lean System vs. Lean Tools

Would you go to a doctor whose credentials included only the following? Completed a six year program at ‘Scalpel University’ Certified in ultrasound technology Developed a medication distribution robot for hospitals  What about one who only focused on the theory of healing, but never actually learned how to read an x-ray or has yet to work with a real, live patient? The point is that being a good doctor requires both an understanding of the theory Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago

Standard Work Procedures: Hand-Written or Computer Generated?

Should Standard Work Documents Be Hand-Written or Computer Generated? There are two conflicting schools of thought on establishing your standard work procedures. Those in favor of computer-generated standard work documents such as Standard Work Sheets and Standard Work Combination Sheets point to the ease with which the information can be updated, and the ability to rapidly transmit the form to the other side of the world.(Click on the links above to download blank standard work forms and learn Read more…

By Jeff Hajek, ago