If you’re just doing your job the best you can, then this article may not be for you. However, if you have multiple things going at once, from side hustles to learning projects, then what follows can be tremendously useful. For me, it is now an annual reflection and planning activity. You likely say yes […]

Automotive assembly is one of the pinnacles of modern manufacturing, having a very complex product of 30 000 parts as well as mass production in large quantities. The modern automotive moving assembly line is hence one of the most complex manufacturing operations in the world. In this two-post series I will look at how this […]

By Pascal Dennis (bio) By walking, I found out where I was going Irving Layton Acting your way to new thinking is easier than the other way round. (Tip of the hat to my colleague Mike Rother.) That’s why Politeness is called the door to the Great Virtues – (another tip of the hat, this […]

Communication is an essential part of our lives, and it’s something we do all day, every day. However, have you ever found yourself in a conversation where you feel like the other person isn’t really listening? Or have you ever been so focused on what you want to say that you’re not paying attention to […]

Transform Your World through the Power of Continuous Learning Want to know the secret to success? It’s about embracing lifelong learning, being willing to try new things and seek out information, setting intentions to get better, and embracing the failures that come with learning your way forward. I believe when we stay in learning – […]

I have been really enjoying this book, released in 2021, by Kiyoshi “Nate” Furuta, a retired Toyota executive: Welcome Problems, Find Success: Creating Toyota Cultures Around the World. I bought it a year ago and wish I had started reading it sooner! Furuta is the retired former chair and CEO of Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. […]

In a recent blog post titled “Lean Zombies,” there was a conversation on LinkedIn that should be of interest to everyone in the Lean community. The text accompanying the LinkedIn post read: “By now, almost everyone realizes that Lean has been reduced to a small suite of popular tools that have been absorbed into classical […]

After making many millions of dollars leading you down the Lean tools path, tricking you into thinking that Lean tools would make your company Lean, you now have the opportunity to spend $1500 per person to take a course where you will “learn why your lean effort is failing, and what to do differently.” For […]

We are often asked if continuous improvement and operational excellence are the same. They are not, but they are closely related. Continuous improvement involves constantly improving your business processes to reduce waste, cut costs, improve quality, and maximize human potential. It focuses on making each existing process perfect. Operational excellence goes further. It involves setting […]

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 […]

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a timeless and iterative management method used by businesses and organizations to foster continuous improvement in their operations. What’s more, it encourages a meticulous approach to problem-solving and process improvement, allowing teams to experiment with solutions on a manageable scale before full-scale implementation. In this blog, we’ll discuss the PDCA […]

Learn and appreciate the pioneering work of Masaaki Imai and the Kaizen Institute, and Yoshiki Iwata, Chihiro Nakao, Akiro Takenaka and Shingijutsu for bringing kaizen to the world. Please carefully study these 39 pages and return to the basics: TPS and kaizen! Learn more about the Kaizen Institute, Shingijutsu Global, and Shingijutsu USA. Kaizen-Institute-Part4Download NOTE: […]

  Cheryl Stokes, the CEO of CNEXT, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on his podcast “People Solve Problems” to share her insights into corporate education, leadership development, culture change, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. With a rich background that spans over two decades, Cheryl has significantly contributed to these fields through her roles at Heidrick & Struggles […]

There was a fascinating article in Bloomberg BusinessWeek about GE doing it’s final spinoff of GE Vernova (ticker symbol: GEV) and the remaining business that Larry Culp remains CEO of: GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aviation, ticker symbol: GE). AN EMPIRE DIVIDED The inside story of how GE CEO Larry Culp dismantled a 131-year-old American giant. […]

Lean thinking is fundamentally transforming the way organizations operate. The Lean principles of continuous improvement, respect for people, and a relentless focus on delivering customer value are making teams and organizations rethink the practices that might have guided them for decades. For Lean to be truly effective, it needs effective Lean Leadership — to champion […]

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #502 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is DeWayne Allen, an executive, speaker, and workshop facilitator. DeWayne is a results-driven executive with over 20 years of experience, renowned for leveraging a solid engineering and operations background to propel growth for Fortune 500 […]

Learn and appreciate the pioneering work of Masaaki Imai and the Kaizen Institute, and Yoshiki Iwata, Chihiro Nakao, Akiro Takenaka and Shingijutsu for bringing kaizen to the world. Please carefully study these 39 pages and return to the basics: TPS and kaizen! Learn more about the Kaizen Institute, Shingijutsu Global, and Shingijutsu USA. Kaizen Institute […]

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 […]

I am pleased to confirm the venue for the London 2024 edition of Leading in a Transforming Organisation. I am grateful to PA Consulting for hosting us again, this time at their Farringdon office, a short walk from Farringdon tube station. You can book your place now: 25-27 June, London, UK:Leading in a Transforming Organisation […]

Mistake-proofing is a spectrum. Some things are “somewhat mistake-proofed” (or “error-proofed). I love eating at Kura Revolving Sushi. It’s not “the best” sushi in the Dallas area, but it’s a fun experience and it’s quick. I went today for lunch. If you’re not familiar with their standard process: 1) You can take a plate off […]

On Forbes:  19 Graceful Ways To Ensure Recognition For Professional Contributions Being recognized for one’s professional contributions is not simply a matter of fair acknowledgment; it can also be a key factor in career advancement. However, many professionals find it challenging to strike the delicate balance between ensuring they receive credit for their good work […]

As part of my grand tour of German automotive, I visited the BMW plant in Leipzig. As of now, this is my second most favorite German automotive plant, after BMW in Munich. I will talk more about this quite well-organized and indeed beautiful plant in a later post series, but in this post I’m going […]

Learn and appreciate the pioneering work of Masaaki Imai and the Kaizen Institute, and Yoshiki Iwata, Chihiro Nakao, Akiro Takenaka and Shingijutsu for bringing kaizen to the world. Please carefully study these 44 pages and return to the basics: TPS and kaizen! Learn more about the Kaizen Institute, Shingijutsu Global, and Shingijutsu USA. Kaizen Institute […]

There is often a missing link in many Lean organizations – which is, the set of leadership structures and behaviors that constitute a lean management system. People frequently equate ‘Lean’ with the tools used to standardize processes and generate efficiencies; and organizations tend to focus more on the implementation of these tools. However, implementing tools […]

Learn and appreciate the pioneering work of Masaaki Imai and the Kaizen Institute, and Yoshiki Iwata, Chihiro Nakao, Akiro Takenaka and Shingijutsu for bringing kaizen to the world. Please carefully study these 32 pages and return to the basics: TPS and kaizen! Learn more about the Kaizen Institute, Shingijutsu Global, and Shingijutsu USA. Kaizen-Institute-Part1Download NOTE: […]

Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly from Ryan via email. News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace better. Operational Excellence, Improvement, and Innovation What would you pay to not lose a finger? […]

Listen: In Episode 45 of the Lean Whiskey podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban join the Just-in-Time Cafe team of Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O’Rourke as a special nod to their 100th Episode, while also having a chance to toast Mark’s accomplishment of 250 episodes of My Favorite Mistake podcast and 500 episodes of the […]

Thing 1: Yesterday’s webinar recording For this month’s webinar we were joined yesterday by Karl Scotland, who over the years has made a number of significant contributions to the development of Agendashift and Leading with Outcomes. You can access the recording and related bits & pieces here. Enjoy! While we’re on free events, there are […]

Episode 45: “Crossover event: Just-in-Time Cafe and Lean Whiskey” In Episode 45, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban join the Just-in-Time Cafe team of Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O’Rourke as a special nod to their 100th Episode, while also having a chance to toast Mark’s accomplishment of 250 episodes of My Favorite Mistake podcast and 500 […]

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 […]

It was more than “mildly infuriating” to see this photo and post shared on Reddit’s “mildly infuriating” subreddit. “Mildly infuriating” is when Group 7 passengers clog the boarding gate area when Group 1 is being called. Mildly infuriating is getting an unnecessary spoon in your diner coffee when you clearly said “no cream and no […]

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, the quest for excellence is relentless. Continuous improvement, a principle at the heart of lean manufacturing, is not just a strategy, but a culture that empowers companies to climb the ladder of efficiency and quality. This approach, centred around the idea of ongoing, incremental betterment, has revolutionized the way […]

The other day, Katie Anderson and I did a livestream about her November Lean study trip to Japan. I’m going with her in November. Come join us! Summary: In our discussion, we delved into the rich learning opportunities presented by the upcoming Japan study trip, an endeavor I’m thrilled to join this November. With a […]

When I wrote my first draft of People Solve Problems, I was very clear that the tools were not where the magic was but I still referred to my favorite tools and methods a bit too often. After a structural edit and some great feedback, I committed further to write a truly method-agnostic book about […]