Shadow boards are a visual management tool used in manufacturing and industrial settings to help reduce waste by ensuring that tools and equipment are always in the right place and good condition. They visually represent where each tool or equipment should be stored and how it should be arranged. Shadow boards are typically made of […]

Every day we face challenges and problems in life, both big and small, and so it’s very important to be good at tackling them. However, that can be easier said than done, and if we make one of these mistakes when trying to solve a problem, we might make the situation worse instead. Finding the […]

As you may know, I have written much to explain in detail why leaders resist and reject Lean management from social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, business, and spiritual perspectives. There is another interesting social aspect that deserves some attention. It is the human spectacle that comes with classical management. Because of poor processes throughout classically […]

In classical management, social status and status-seeking is understood to be both good and right. It is an integral part of the history of success of humans individually and the human race (humanity) whether in business, government, military, or religion. There is a very long, multi-millennia, history associated with status and status-seeking in most human […]

I stumbled across this article the other day, on the important issue of medication errors: Medication Errors: The Year in Review “Preventing medication errors is an essential component of caring for patients and must be a core mission of every pharmacy. For medication error prevention efforts to be effective, they must be a priority.” It […]

Lean people believe that a Lean culture is superior to the culture found in classically managed organizations. The belief is based on facts gained through experience, though for some it is based on reports found in books and articles. It is often informed by having worked in different places where one directly experienced both types […]

The SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) Analysis model is an innovative, strengths-based approach to change management that fosters collaboration, discovery, learning, and innovation. This model can be applied across various contexts, from strategic planning to personal development. In this blog post, we will explore the fundamentals of the SOAR model, its applications, and some […]

Times have changed since the term “Lean” was first introduced to the world in 1988, 33 years ago. Back then the need for Lean was in relationship to national and corporate competitiveness, cost reduction, quality improvement, and reducing the time from order to delivery. These things remain important, but two things are emerging that are […]

I couldn’t help noticing that the upcoming Leading with Outcomes: Foundation and Adaptive Organisation (I) & (II) (London, 20-22 June) overlaps somewhat with Leading with Outcomes: Train-the-Trainer/Facilitator (TTT/F). In particular, it will cover: All of Leading with Outcomes: Foundation (that’s day 1) An Agendashift Assessment (running through days 2 and 3) and its debrief (day […]

Environmental sustainability is a critical issue facing the world today. While there are many ways to address this issue, continuous improvement offers an effective approach to help individuals and organizations achieve long-term sustainability goals. Continuous improvement involves constantly assessing and improving processes and systems to achieve better outcomes. By using continuous improvement principles to address […]

Toyota is widely regarded as the Lean community’s “True North,” the compass guiding us on who we should be and what we should do as a Lean community. Twenty years ago this past April, Toyota Motor Corporation published “The Toyota Way 2001” internal document. The basic ideas contained in the document, shown in the image […]

Leaders who want to develop a culture of rapid continuous improvement have many tools at their disposal. So many that it can be challenging to keep them all in mind when deciding how to execute an opportunity for improvement or address a difficult challenge. Most organizations don’t use all of these techniques simultaneously, but each […]

On 14 July 2021, The Lean Enterprise Academy (LEA) posted the image shown below (left side) on LinkedIn. My comment to the post was: “Birth of TPS.” Meaning, the title of the book, The Birth of Lean was incorrect. Many people agreed with (“Liked”) my comment, which is historically and factually correct based on the […]

One of the main hindrances for proper lean manufacturing is, in my view, management by numbers. While few managers actively do management by numbers, a quantitative measurement is still often preferred. The problem is if you can measure the cost but not the benefits of something…which often happens in lean manufacturing. Now let me rant […]

After five years, I decided it was time to refresh my web site. It has a new look and a new area of focus. In addition to my books, you will notice four unique online courses: Speed Leadership Strategy Hardening Creative Kaizen Conquering Barriers I invite you to have a have a look at the […]

Apparently this (the title) is a Ryan Holiday quote. (He wrote a somewhat famous book: “The obstacle is the way”.)   Today I want to talk about the OPPOSITE. Many of us believe that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”.  NO, no, I did not really mean that.  Although no doubt […]

By Pascal Dennis (bio) I wrote a book called Getting the Right Things Done about protecting your core business. GRTD found an audience and my team & I have helped a lot of companies implement the methods I described. They’re a practical, and proven way to bullet-proof your company. But that’s no longer enough. Today, […]

For my Facebook fans you already know about this great feature. But for those of you that are not connected to A Lean Journey on Facebook or Twitter I post daily a feature I call Lean Tips.  It is meant to be advice, things I learned from experience, and some knowledge tidbits about Lean to […]

Introduction Gap analysis is a valuable tool in the preventive maintenance (PM) industry, as it aids in identifying areas where improvement is required. A comprehensive gap analysis can enhance equipment efficiency, reduce downtime, and increase cost savings. The following article discusses the recent gap analysis performed by our team using the spreadsheet provided: Gap Analysis […]

I’m happy to be hosting another webinar, to be presented by Elisabeth Swan presented as part of the KaiNexus continuous improvement webinar series. Register here: Deepen Your Lean Leadership Skills with Brain Science If you register using the link, you will be sent the recording if you cannot attend live (well, you’ll get the recording sent to […]

Introduction As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, you are well-versed in the DMAIC methodology and its importance in driving continuous improvement in your organization. Each phase of the DMAIC methodology is vital, but the Improve phase is where the rubber truly meets the road. In this chapter, we will explore the intricacies of the […]

My 2022 April Fool’s joke that was posted on LinkedIn More than a simple joke, the image satirizes the relentlessly excessive focus on Toyota in Lean-world, the massive overproduction of books related to Toyota, and the freakish desire to buy said books to gain personal knowledge while doing little or nothing to actually implement was […]

The five lean manufacturing principles can help manufacturing companies to operate more efficiently. Putting lean concepts into practice can be beneficial for your bottom line since greater efficiency results in improved productivity. Moreover, it aids in creating a positive customer experience which improves customer satisfaction and enhances your brand’s reputation. Before we get into what […]

INTERVIEW – In 2020, GE Appliances had to stand up a brand-new assembly process for a new dishwasher. The leader responsible for the program explains how LPPD helped them to get it right. Interviewee: Alison Seward, Executive Director, Manufacturing Quality, GE Appliances Roberto Priolo: In 2020, you ran a very successful project to stand up […]

Here is a Ted Lasso-themed blog post that I wrote for the KaiNexus Blog: It Starts With BELIEVE – Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement The post begins… At KaiNexus, many of us are excited that Season 3 of the show “Ted Lasso” is here. I love this graphic that our team created, based on […]

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on […]

Introduction In continuous improvement, the Lean Six Sigma methodology is a proven approach for reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and driving business success. At the heart of Lean Six Sigma lies the DMAIC framework, a structured process for solving complex problems. DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. In this blog post, we will […]

Whether your company has ten employees or 10,000, coming up with an employee engagement strategy can be a challenge. It’s easy to fall back on the same old engagement and training activities, but they tend to lose effectiveness with too much repetition. Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Here are 22 ideas that can help […]

I know I’m not alone in being frustrated by something as simple — seemingly simple — as transferring electronic medical records from one physician’s office to another. I do have a more unusual situation, and forgive me if this is obnoxious to point out, but my wife and I have two homes and addresses. One […]

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more Joining us for Episode #473 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Elisabeth Swan, author of the new book Picture Yourself a Leader: Illustrated Micro-Lessons for Navigating Change. It’s currently the #1 new release in the Amazon TQM category… and #1 best seller, in general, there! […]

For any business, waste strains profitability. Waste can come in the form of time, resources and labor; it shows up through poor process planning, inventory imbalance, or poor warehouse layout. Essentially, waste is any expense or effort that does not transform raw material into a finished product. By optimizing processes and eliminating waste, businesses can […]

At KaiNexus, many of us are excited that Season 3 of the show “Ted Lasso” is here.

FEATURE – In this new series, the author will walk us through some uncommon ways to apply lean – with a particular focus on establishing productive and enjoyable relationships. In the first instalment, he introduces the concept of lean parenting. Words: Sérgio Caldeirinha, President, Lean Academy Portugal As parents, we all want our children to […]

The slide in question: In the background, two models: Klaus Leopold’s Flight Levels, described in his book Rethinking Agile (2020) The Deliberately Adaptive Organisation, my 21st-century take on Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model, and here in particular, what’s happening in the relationships between different scales (between team and team-of-teams, for example) And in the foreground, […]