Business processes serve as the backbone of an organization, defining how tasks are executed, resources are allocated, and goals are achieved. In this dynamic and competitive landscape, embracing continuous improvement through effective process improvement plans is paramount.

Coming next Wednesday: a new episode of the Lean Blog Interviews podcast with Keith Ingels from The Raymond Corporation. You can listen now with a free trial or paid subscription for “early access” through the Apple Podcasts app. One thing that stood out was a variation on a common Lean expression that says, “Be hard on the process, not on […]

Are you a leader struggling with creating change in your organization? Trying to figure out how to not be the 70% of failed change initiatives? Or wondering how to get everyone on board with your vision? Then the book Change Questions is for you! Trust me – I’ve read the book, and there are some […]

In the vast galaxy of business operations, where projects are akin to stars and processes are the constellations that bind them, a subtle and seismic force emerges that ensures our celestial bodies move in harmonious synchrony. This force, deeply embedded in the cosmos of Project and Operations Management, is known as Key Performance Indicators, or […]

A selection of highlighted blog posts from Lean bloggers from the month of August 2023.  You can also view the previous monthly Lean Roundups here.     The First Shingo Prize – Behind the Scene – Bruce Hamilton shares his experience from the first Shingo Prize 35 years ago.   Ten Truths Lean People Need to Embrace […]

Waste is a typical byproduct that many, if not all, manufacturers deal with. However, this is unideal because it can greatly impact the profitability and sustainability of a business. Reducing waste is not just about improving your bottom line. Instead, it’s also about ensuring your business thrives, enhancing product quality, and improving customer satisfaction. Therefore, […]

The most successful companies are never satisfied with the status quo. They constantly have their eye on the next innovation, the next level of performance. They know the importance of continuous improvement in all areas of the business. Even if things are going really well, people at successful organizations are looking at what could be […]

When leaders consider implementing a structured business process improvement methodology, one of the challenges they often face is explaining to employees what types of opportunities to consider. Usually, there are some apparent needs that people attack immediately. Still, once those are addressed, it can be challenging to recognize the flaws in processes, especially ones you […]

I was very excited to learn about an event that is being produced by GE, next Wednesday, September 6th, in New York City. I’m thrilled to have been invited to attend in person, along with other “Lean Influencers,” including my friends Katie Anderson and Jamie V. Parker. We will be fortunate to be there in […]

This is the backstory to the book Lean University Higher education has been in trouble for some time now. Why is that? In part, it is because university leaders have long thought universities are different from other types of organizations  – so much so, that they can manage poorly for decades and largely ignore the […]

This is the backstory to the book Lean Teaching. Upon completing my Ph.D. in Engineering at Brown University, I decided to get a job in industry rather than an academic position at a university. I felt it was important to gain significant real-world work experience that I thought would be essential in case I returned […]

Having written 28 books in 20 years, prospective and current authors might be interested in my tips for writing and publishing. I hope you find them helpful. 1. If writing is difficult for you, don’t bother trying to write a book. 2. Writing is a creative activity. You must be inspired and highly motivated. If […]

This is the back story to the book A Few More Thoughts. As much as I love the nexus of practice, observation, research, and writing, there comes a point when it is time to wrap it up. A Few More Thoughts is my 28th and final book. The yin-yang subjects of management and leadership, primarily […]

Your physical assets, such as your equipment and machinery, are the backbone of your business. However, equipment failures cannot be eliminated—they will happen. Fortunately, a preventive maintenance process can help you maintain these assets and extend their lifespans. In today’s blog we’ll discover five key benefits of preventive maintenance. But first, let’s briefly get into […]

Listen: In Episode 41, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh try a couple experiments, in the spirit of continuous improvement. You’ll first notice that we moved the whiskey talk to the end. The hypothesis here is that some people don’t want to hear the whiskey talk, so they can just exit the podcast when we finish […]

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 […]

Episode 41: “Should lean be forced?”  In Episode 41, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh try a couple of experiments, in the spirit of continuous improvement. You’ll first notice that we moved the whiskey talk to the end. The hypothesis here is that some people don’t want to hear the whiskey talk, so they can just […]

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 Who knows? People doing the work. Who’s the real knowledge worker? Everyone, especially those […]

Have you ever wondered what makes powerhouses like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Tesla tick when it comes to executing their grand strategies? While there might not be a one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few common traits of their success. Think of a trio: focus on customer experience, a goal for keeping things refreshingly simple, and […]

As faculty, we take great pride in teaching students critical thinking. We know this important to teach, yet we are not naïve. We recognize that while most employers say critical thinking is an important skill for graduates to have, few may really want it because employees will speak truth to power. That’s uncomfortable. But, what […]

Referring to students as customers is a contentious issue among faculty. I have heard a lot of different arguments both ways, but the fact is that higher education is a buyers’ market. Also, over the years, I have noticed that students increasingly think of themselves as customers. If they do, shouldn’t we? One seemingly strong […]

It is interesting to watch the intense activity and interest in massive open online courses (MOOCs) and the rush to use them in higher ed (especially public universities). The most enthusiastic proponents both inside HE and out seem to view MOOCs as the omnibus solution to all extant problems. It’s as if the attitude among […]

This blog category is for questions people have about the book Lean Teaching. Question: Most of your recommendations hold for class sizes of no more than 25 or so. Any (lean) suggestions/ideas for handling a 300+ size class, where student noise/disturbances are most distressing [to] me as a teacher trying to get something important into the heads? – Prof. Luc […]

Question: Do you assign any of the books you have written to students for the courses that you teach? Answer: I have done so in the past, but not since 2006 (Better Thinking, Better Results was assigned as required reading for my Lean Leadership course ca. 2003-2006). The books are neither required nor recommended reading in any of […]

If you are a Lean advocate and graduate of higher education, I would like to hear from you – the voice of the (student) customer. What Lean principles and practices do you think teachers should apply to their teaching? Why? And what will be the benefit to students?

Leadership principles give us ideas on how we can lead ourselves and our team to encourage high levels of performance and greater chances for learning and growth. Here are just seven principles that will help you achieve more as a leader with your team. See if they could work for you: Principle 1: Kindle Passion […]

Reports of the college and university professors who have taught MOOCs consistently cite how the teacher is impressed with having reached so many students at one time – more than the sum of their entire career. Tens of thousands or more of students. Others are impressed as well. Soon professors will add to their resume […]

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guests for Episode #483 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast are Amanda Zimmerman and Dominic Stokes, two Lean Six Sigma professionals who co-host a new podcast called “Squishy Lean.” Amanda Zimmerman is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with a global background. Amanda has […]

It should be obvious to all the MOOCs offer an economies of scale argument which helps propel university leaders’ interest in the technology for use in higher education. As scale increases, costs go down. What could be better than something so simple as that? Most leaders of organizations eventually seek scale in order to reduce […]

Over the last several years, those of us in public universities have witnessed the terrible effects of financial distress. Invariably, the solution by HE leaders and state government is the same: budget cuts. Our leaders, educated in critical thinking, know of only one action to take when financial problems arise, thereby demonstrating no creativity or […]

Have you ever said or heard other people say that they had only 3 or 4 really good professors when they were an undergraduate student, out of the 40 or so professors they experienced over four years? Why are only 10 percent of professors remembered by students as having been really good? I have heard […]

Question: OK, I read The Lean Professor. It’s excellent, but how do I get started? Answer: Great! I’m happy to hear you are getting started. You can begin by documenting the primary learning objectives of the course, based on the main subject matter. Think about this without looking at any books or other reference material. Then break that […]

This is really hard to write, as I was stunned and saddened by the recent passing of a good friend and colleague, Chris Burnham. Word had started to spread on LinkedIn and I feel bad about having to share this news here. You can read his obituary here: Christopher Burnham Obituary There will be a […]

In Lean Teaching, I identified 45 common teaching errors. I also proposed a simple definition for quality in teaching: “Quality is the absence of known or obvious teaching errors.” Which of the 45 errors shown in the form below have you experienced as an undergraduate student in higher education? Please take 1 to 2 minutes to fill […]