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Gotta Go Lean Blog
Lean Blog-Gotta Go Lean
Why Offense and Defense Scoring Rankings are Horrible Metrics for the NFL
I am an avid fan of the NFL. I love looking over the stats almost as much as watching games. The numbers tell you a lot about the flow of the game.
The stats, though, are can be misleading. Take scoring offense and scoring defense, for example. Let’s say that a team gives up few points. This can happen because the defense is stout or because the offense is great and controls the ball. With a few less possessions in a game, you’d expect to see fewer points.
Lean Terms
OSHA
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, is a part of the US Department of Labor. It was formed in 1970 with the mission of assuring a safe and healthful working environment by setting and enforcing standards. It also provides training, outreach, education, and assistance. The underlying mission of OSHA is completely compatible with continuous improvement. Providing a safe and healthy environment is part of showing respect for people. Unfortunately, many government agencies are Read more…
Lean Terms
Side Effects of Lean
While Lean and other continuous improvement efforts can make impressive changes in an organization, there are often some unintended side effects. The Lean side effects include: Possible accounting issues. The dramatic changes in inventory and the way costs are applied can be disruptive to financial documents. In some cases, it can even appear that something negative is happening. Potential employee turnover. Some employees don’t like the changes that come with the continuous improvement culture. Occasionally Read more…
Lean Terms
Paradigm / Paradigm Shift
A paradigm is a framework for thinking about something, usually a scientific or technical discipline. Some examples of a paradigm might be the thought that big batches are good on a machine that has a long setup, or that Lean principles do not apply in office environments. Paradigms are often unchallenged and tend to frame the way we think about what can and cannot be done. Because we take the paradigms we believe in as Read more…
Lean Terms
Rapid Improvement Workshop / RIW
“Rapid improvement workshop” is another name for kaizen event or kaizen blitz. You may also hear it called rapid improvement project, or “RIP”. This type of project is generally a week long and includes: A day of training A day of process walk / initial planning Two days of making improvements A morning of final improvements / wrap-up A report out A rapid improvement project is done by a cross-functional team usually led by someone Read more…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between Lean and Six Sigma?
What is the difference between Lean and Six Sigma? Hang around the Lean community for any length of time, and you will start to hear about the rivalry between Lean and Six Sigma. The two methodologies are the juggernauts of the continuous improvement world. While they are both focused on making operations work more smoothly, they have a slightly different approach in how they do that. The traditional view is that Lean is focused on pulling wasteful steps and inventory out of a process, Read more…
Continuous Improvement Strategies
Standard Work requires you to share your tricks and secrets
Job security is extremely important to people. One way that people increase their job security is to hold crucial information close to the vest. The thought is that the employee can’t be let go if the information goes with him. The problem, with this belief, though is that in a Lean organization, processes change rapidly. Skills become far more important than specific process knowledge.
Lean Blog-Gotta Go Lean Poll Question
POLL: Is Toyota Overrated?
POLL QUESTION: Which of the following most accurately describes Toyota’s current role in the Lean community?
I am a big fan of all that Toyota has done for the Lean community. Their contributions have been incalculable, and their willingness to share information is legendary…
Lean Terms
Value
Value, simply put, is something that a customer is willing to trade for. The trade is most commonly done with cash, meaning that a customer is willing to pay for it. Not all things that are valued are paid for, though. Consider the numerous free downloads on websites (including our site, www.velaction.com). Customers who value the information don’t pay, but rather register on the site or subscribe. They trade permission to contact them for the Read more…
Lean Terms
Process Map
A process map is a visual representation of how work flows through an operation. In practical Lean applications, it is often used synonymously with the term process flow chart. The truth though, is that “process map” is a generic term. A process flowchart is just one specific type of process map, albeit by far the most common one. Other proprietary alternatives are available. People occasionally even draw unique maps of their process. The key is Read more…
Lean Terms
Operator Cycle Time
Operator cycle time is the time it takes an operator to do one unit of his or her prescribed work from start to finish. Note that this is elapsed time. The clock starts when the operator begins his work and ends when he or she is ready to start the next unit, regardless of whether it has arrived yet. Operator cycle time will include waiting time within the process (i.e. standing by a machine, or Read more…