Problem solving is an important part of manufacturing because it allows companies to identify and address issues that can impact product quality, production efficiency, and overall profitability. However, it is not to be confused with actual improvement. While problem solving (hopefully) makes the problem go away, actual kaizen is something different. Problems… If you’re in […]

Introduction: Finding fresh business ideas can be challenging in a world of constant innovation. The SCAMPER framework offers a powerful technique to help entrepreneurs and business professionals generate groundbreaking ideas. By starting with something that already exists and examining it through seven areas of questioning, this method can lead to innovative products, services, or processes. […]

Change management has become an essential part of organizational development, particularly in the ever-evolving manufacturing industry landscape. The plant floor, a crucial component of the manufacturing process, requires a flexible approach to change management to achieve efficiency, innovation, and profitability. This article will discuss the importance of change management in the manufacturing sector, exploring key […]

Since the turn of the 21st century, the possession of data has become a greater source of economic power than ever before, dwarfing, in particular, analytics. It’s data about us humans, not about the physical world: our demographic segment, where we live, what we buy, our opinions, and our relationships. This is a development that […]

There are numerous studies on the relationship between managers and employees regarding engagement. It is quite notable that most of the google searches focus on employee engagement. Or on what a manager can do to increase employee engagement. But what about the managers? What if they are disengaged? According to the Gallup Business Journal, 70% […]

On Forbes: 3 Reasons to Kill the 60-Minute Meeting Open Outlook or Google Calendar and start a new meeting. It will default to 60 minutes. One hour is the most common length for a business meeting. But that’s just wrong. It’s not wrong sometimes; it’s wrong all the time. We need to kill the 60-minute […]

At Kanbanize, we believe that the essence of agility lies in our ability to cut through the noise and focus our most valuable asset, TIME, on the things that truly matter! After all, that’s why we built our product in the first place: to help people do meaningful work and, by that, accelerate innovation.   But […]

Chapter 4 in my book The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation is about preventing mistakes — mistake-proofing. In the chapter, I share a few examples of everyday error-proofing at gas stations. I also share an example related to electric vehicles for those who no longer have to pump gas […]

Introduction Scrum is a widely-used agile framework for managing projects. This article breaks down key concepts and terminologies from a Scrum Cheat Sheet, providing a comprehensive guide to help you master the Scrum framework. We will discuss user stories, estimation techniques, roles, artifacts, and processes involved in Scrum. User Stories and Estimation User stories are […]

Abstract: This study aims to elucidate the differences between outcomes and outputs in a business context, exploring the nature of value creation, goal-setting, and performance measurement. By examining the quantitative and binary dimensions of these concepts, we seek to provide a more nuanced understanding of the necessary capabilities and flexibility required to achieve overarching outcomes […]

A Holistic Approach to Customer Satisfaction and Quality Management The Kano model, developed by Dr. Noriaki Kano in the 1980s, is a valuable framework for understanding customer satisfaction and quality management. Rooted in the principles of Genchi Genbutsu and influenced by Herzberg’s 2-Dimensional Theory, the Kano method helps businesses identify and address the factors that […]

DMAIC – reduce variation and eliminate waste DMAIC should be used when an existing product or process requires improvement to meet or exceed the customer’s requirements. This initiative should be consistent with the business goals of the organization. Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control Define Customer expectations: VOC and CTQ parameters Project goal Project team Milestones, Budget Basic process flow Measure Process mapping […]

Introduction In today’s fast-paced business world, the need for efficient and streamlined processes is more important than ever. One approach that has proven to be effective in addressing process inconsistencies is the DMASC methodology. DMASC, a simplified version of the DMAIC change roadmap, focuses on standardizing processes rather than making substantial changes. This approach is […]

WEB SERIES – In Episode 2 of our docuseries on lean in Brazil, we learn how the pioneering efforts of a cancer clinic have inspired the city of São José dos Campos to transform into a lean healthcare cluster. Scripted, edited and narrated by: Roberto Priolo Join us as we visit two healthcare organizations in […]

Over the past decade, I’ve presented countless webinars in different settings, and I’ve hosted and moderated more than 100 for KaiNexus. For a long time, I’ve said that webinar presenting is the most difficult format and venue. You don’t get the energy, body language, and feedback that you get from a room full of people. […]

Thanks as always to Ryan McCormack for this… there’s always so much good reading, listening, and viewing shared here by him! Subscribe to get these directly from Ryan via email. Insights about improvement, innovation, and leadership… Operational Excellence, Improvement, and Innovation Up in the air Southwest Airlines has responded with a 5-page action plan on how it […]

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 […]

Nurturing Growth, Empowering Individuals, and Shaping the Future Introduction “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but allowing them to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg Mentorship is a vital yet often overlooked aspect of personal and professional development. At its core, mentorship empowers individuals to reach their full […]

What is Overall Equipment Effectiveness? Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a manufacturing metric that was established by Seiichi Nakajima, the pioneer of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), in the 1980s. It is used to measure the productivity level of equipment and is made up of three factors. These three factors identify how efficient equipment is during […]

Introduction: The food packaging industry is vital in delivering safe and high-quality products to consumers. In a highly competitive market, efficiency and cost-effectiveness are critical to maintaining a strong market position. One of the key challenges food packaging companies face is extended changeover times between different Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), which can lead to reduced […]

The OKR (Objective Key Results) method has been gaining increased popularity in the last years as an objectives management approach. The framework can be used both for development goals, i.e., changing the status quo in the company, as well as for product goals. Unfortunately, the OKR method is very often applied with the “by the […]

Introduction The automotive industry has always been at the forefront of innovation, from designing cutting-edge vehicles to adopting advanced manufacturing processes. As the industry evolves, so does the need for comprehensive quality management systems that ensure safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Enter IATF 16949, the International Automotive Quality Standard, which sets the benchmark for quality […]

Introduction Project Cost Management is a critical component of successful project management. It encompasses the various processes necessary for planning, estimating, budgeting, financing, funding, managing, and controlling costs to ensure a project is completed within the approved budget. Effective cost management ensures that resources are used efficiently and helps make informed decisions throughout the project […]

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do”  The above quote given by Steve Jobs highlights the importance of being motivated at work. Besides, being motivated at work comes with lots of internal and external factors and the work environment is one of them. A positive work environment can help […]

I’m happy to announce that I’ve finished the manuscript for my upcoming book (a real one, not an April Fool’s Joke). The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation It’s taken about a year from saying, “I’m going to write a book based on the My Favorite Mistake podcast” to completing […]

Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota Production System, once said, “Without Standard Work, there is no Kaizen.” That’s a pretty bold statement, but when you think about the continuous improvement cycle, it makes a lot of sense. How can you move from the current state to the desired state if the current state is […]

Unlock the secrets to effective time management and conquer the PMP exam with confidence Introduction The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the most sought-after credentials in the project management field. Passing the PMP exam can boost your career prospects and demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and process excellence. However, the exam […]

Today, I was happy to host a webinar that Katie Anderson presented as part of the KaiNexus continuous improvement webinar series. Access it here: How to Create a Continuous Improvement Culture by Closing the GAPS If you register using the link, you can access the recording immediately. The contest is now closed, but you can […]

Toyota is (among other things) famous for its team structure on the front line. They have a quite low ratio of team members to supervisors, and I believe that is part of their success. Whereas many Western companies overstuff their hierarchy, at Toyota supervisors actually have the time to help their people and to also […]

I was hoping that Tom’s announcement, via his email newsletter and his website, was an April Fool’s joke. But the announcement came out on March 31th and one of his team members confirmed Tom’s plans. Tom Peters: My Retirement As Seth Godin did, I’d like to share some of my memories and experiences with Tom. […]

Problem solving is a vital skill in the workplace. The ability to think logically and creatively empowers individuals to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in all levels of business. At its most effective, problem-solving allows employees to seamlessly engage in the psychological process of realizing, evaluating, and resolving daily challenges. At the core of business […]

By Pascal Dennis (bio) Big data is all the rage these days. Big consulting houses and IT touts assure us that the next big breakthrough is just around the corner. And all we need is self-appointed experts and super computers that crunch through all our ‘data’ and make sense of everything for us. Don’t’ want […]

As I’ve blogged about before in recent years (here and here), Major League Baseball (MLB) has, as Toyota people say, “big vague concern”: Games are too long and too slow! In recent years, they’ve tried a few countermeasures that have proved ineffective. Starting in 2017, an intentional walk no longer required four pitches to be […]

Introduction: Are you a project manager, a team member, or simply someone who wants to understand the essentials of project management? This blog post will provide a comprehensive understanding of projects, their objectives, deliverables, and the significance of their temporary nature. Understanding these key concepts will help you succeed in your professional endeavours and contribute […]