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 […]

Over the last 15 years, having presented various heterodox ideas and practices to the Lean community, as well as steadily pointing out numerous problems, I have learned the following things about people and systems: There is limited interest in facts. People would rather talk about big problems than solve big problems. Big problems that finally […]

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. News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace better. Operational Excellence, Improvement, and Innovation Your employees have good ideas. Just ask […]

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 […]

Manufacturing is a complex process that involves various stages, from the creation of raw materials to the final product. One of the most critical aspects of manufacturing is ensuring that the production quality is top-notch. Improved production quality in manufacturing can lead to increased efficiency, better product performance, and overall customer satisfaction. In this blog […]

What do Boeing frontline mechanics and engineers think about this day? What did they expect going into it? How did the day turn out? I’d love to know. “Quality is made in the boardroom.” W. Edwards Deming I rolled my eyes hard when I read this announcement from Boeing, as part of the aftermath of […]

The strategic significance of adopting business improvement software cannot be overstated in today’s dynamic business landscape. As organizations strive for operational excellence and sustained growth, leveraging advanced software solutions becomes paramount. This blog delves into the transformative impact of business improvement software, exploring how these tools play a pivotal role in streamlining processes, fostering innovation, […]

I’m excited to be hosting and moderating a new webinar that’s part of the KaiNexus Continuous Improvement webinar series, to be presented by Ed Pound, the managing director of the Operations Science Institute. The free webinar is titled “Apply Operations Science to Accelerate Success Now.” Join us on February 6th at 1 pm ET. The […]

Have you ever seen a team fall apart because of bickering, infighting, or a failure of accountability? Not only is it frustrating to watch, it’s also incredibly disheartening. Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, defines “Teamwork is the state achieved by a group of people working together who trust one another, […]

Move from Technical Expert to Influential Leader Do you want to move beyond being a tools or process improvement project “doer” or technical expert to a transformational change leader? Have you wanted to step into greater influence and impact in your organization? Or perhaps you’re a leader seeking to create broader organizational change but don’t […]

In healthcare, leaders saying “we’ll hold them accountable” too often means, in reality, “we’ll punish individuals for mistakes that have many systemic causes.” To the extreme side of this spectrum, a nurse, RaDonda Vaught, was criminally prosecuted and convicted as an individual, while the organization and its leaders she worked for were not “held accountable” […]

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Every workplace undergoes changes, and how we manage them can significantly impact our operations’ success. The 4M changes—Man, Machine, Material, and Method—are critical areas where alterations might occur. Today, we dive into a detailed work instruction (WI) sheet designed to navigate these changes effectively. Man Changes in personnel, whether due to leaves, new operators, or […]

Below is a list of book recommendations sorted by subject, area of interest, position, or job function. Most books are under 200 pages. Supervisor Speed Leadership: A New Way to Lead for Rapidly Changing TimesA Changed Perspective: An Essential Guide for Emerging LeadersThe Aesthetic Compass: Foundation of Leadership Action and Inaction Manager Speed Leadership: A […]

Efficient business processes are crucial for organizational success because they directly impact every element of operations, contributing to effectiveness, competitiveness, and sustainability. How can businesses effectively balance innovation with the requirement for established, efficient processes? Striking the right equilibrium between adaptability and stability is a common challenge in today’s dynamic business environment. This article explores […]

Thanks to Timothy R. Clark and Junior Clark for this excellent episode of their “Culture by Design” podcast from LeaderFactor: In the episode, they debunk myths and misunderstandings about Psychological Safety that unfortunately get spread in workplaces and publications. In this case, it was an article in the Harvard Business Review titled: “Can Workplaces Have […]

The great consolidation continues apace! Landing this morning on the newer of the two Agendashift Academy platforms was part I of the latest version of the Inside-out Strategy module. Part I introduces many of our most popular exercises, most notably: Our trusty, context-capturing kickoff exercise Celebration-5W The inspiring (and sometimes cathartic) True North: Ideal Our […]

Recently I had the chance to visit the high-end luxury car assembly lines of two German car makers, Audi and Mercedes, making the Audi A8 and the Maybach respectively. The feel of these plants is more about craftsmanship than mass production, quite different from “normal” cars.   Audi A8 The Audi A8 is the luxury […]

Get enthusiastic about kaizen! Own a limited edition “Kaizen Forever” Hoodie! Jerzees NuBlend® hoodie, pre-shrunk 50 cotton / 50 polyester with fleece interior for extra warmth. Great swag for kaizen teams! Available sizes are Medium (2), Large (5), and Extra-Large (3). Price $75 + $15 for shipping and handling (U.S. addresses only). DM me if […]

Image source: LinkedIn, 22 January 2024 Looks like times have changed! 27 years ago, when I was a Supply/Commodity manager at Pratt & Whitney and a lead aerospace team member for the new UTC Purchasing Initiative, I/we faced immense pressure from the P&W and UTC VPs of purchasing to move small machined parts manufacturing to […]

Quality affects a company in a variety of ways, from productivity and profitability to customer satisfaction and public perception. In addition, quality affects the overall operating costs of a company. Focusing on quality helps keep a company strong in all areas. In this article I highlight three effects on how poor quality can affect your […]

By Pascal Dennis (bio) This one’s like gravity – not just a good idea, it’s the law… It’s my privilege to help leaders develop strategies for complex organizations. A recurrent refrain is ‘our business strategy is too complicated to explain simply.’ If so, do we really understand our strategy? Don’t want to be misunderstood. I […]

When I began JFlinch in January of 2020, I simply got started because I really wanted to decide slowly over time what work I truly wanted to do. While the pandemic forced some changes, it also set a path of my honing of my strategic heuristics for decision making, and ultimately the shape of what […]

We can all make mistakes, so I advocate for learning from mistakes through my book, podcast, and speaking. I do my best to learn from my mistakes, so I don’t repeat them. I fail to meet that standard sometimes, and I try to learn from those moments (as I shared in this recent post). A […]

Welcome to a world where learning and professional growth go hand in hand and where the barriers to expanding your expertise are lifted! We’re thrilled to introduce you to our latest discovery: a Free Udemy Courses treasure trove, now accessible with a 100% Coupon. Whether you’re aspiring to master Good Manufacturing Practices, enhance your problem-solving […]

Introduction Change is a constant in the business world, and managing it effectively is crucial for any organization looking to stay competitive and efficient. Implementing a well-structured change control system is essential for maintaining process excellence and continuous improvement. This three-part blog series will guide you through the ten essential steps to establish a robust […]

What does it mean when a sensei challenges kaizen team members to think like a 9-year old? Sensei is asking them to do something that is very difficult. That is, to approach the work and the problems in ways that a 9-year old child would — free of preconceptions. What is a preconception? It is […]

Episode 44: “New Year’s Resolutions, just not Dry January. Boeing makes one too”  In Episode 44, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh get back together for this first episode of 2024. Since we’re not doing Dry January, we go right into the whiskey first by talking about old bottles including one very old one found at […]

Listen: In Episode 44 of the Lean Whiskey podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban get back together for this first episode of 2024. Since we’re not doing Dry January, we go right into the whiskey first by talking about old bottles, including one very old one found at auction. We then did our own comparison […]

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 first of two blog posts exploring shareholder and stakeholder theories of management. An excellent research paper by Vladislav Valentinov and Robert Chia on the different worldviews (ontologies) associated with shareholder and stakeholder theories. The paper discusses the difference between substance (atomistic individualism) and process (relational) ontologies. To improve, Lean promoters, influencers, and advocates must […]

In this episode of People Solve Problems, host Jamie Flinchbaugh invites a thought-provoking guest, Frank Nestore, Vice President at Mathtech’s public sector consulting practice. The episode delves into the intricate world of problem-solving within governmental agencies, a realm where Frank has extensive experience and deep insights. Frank begins by outlining the unique challenges faced by […]

The second of two blog posts exploring shareholder and stakeholder theories of management. An excellent research paper by Vladislav Valentinov on the shareholder (neoclassical economics) and stakeholder theory (institutional economics). Unfortunately, the neoclassical economics that most top leaders (and their lines of succession) remain strongly committed to, as well as their understanding of corporate purpose […]

“It is in Toyota’s DNA that mistakes made once will not be repeated.” — Akio Toyoda, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation I love that quote from Mr. Toyoda, and I use it to lead off Chapter 4 of my book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, on “Preventing Mistakes.” We […]