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 this journey because without learning we can not improve.
Feel free to share some of your favorites here as well.
"To dream anything that you want to dream. That is the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed." - Bernard edmonds, American Writer
History has proven time after time that the power of a thought is the beginning for actions that will alter the future positively. Understanding this, and having the courage to keep going even in the face of all obstacles, allows us to accomplish anything we want.
As you approach the tough decisions that challenge you, recognize these truths about courage:
1. Courage Begins with an Inward Battle - Courage isn't an absense of fear. It's doing what you are afraid to do. It's having the power to let go of the familiar and forge ahead into new terrritory.
2. Courage Is Making Things Right, Not Just Smoothing Them Over - Courage deals with principle, not perception. It's knowing when to stand up and having the conviction to do so.
3. Courage in a Leader Inspires Commitment from Followers - A show of courage by any person encourages others. But a show of courage by a leader ispires. It makes people want to follow them.
4. Your Life Expands in Proportion to Your Courage - Fear limits a leader. But courage has the opposite effect. Courage not only gives you a good beginnig, but it also provides a better future.
To improve your courage try these three things:
1. Take fear head on. Go out and do something fearful simply for the sake of growing courage.
2. Don't avoid confrontation. Speak with that person in your life truthfully.
3. Don't hold back. Now is the time to take that first step on that action your too afraid to make.
Courage means trusting yourself to overcome your fears and doing what you are afraid to do. Courage increases conviction and inspires others to confront their fears. Do you have the courage to succeed and make others succeed.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Flow Requires “No” Vision
When Henry Ford introduced flow production in 1913, the objective was to drastically reduce throughput time and human effort. Continuous flow is producing and moving one item at a time (or a small batch of items) through a series of processes as continuously as possible.
Flow is one of five key Lean Principles identified by Womack and Jones in their book Lean Thinking
. They stressed that you need to make value flow. It was this creation of flow that would make it possible to eliminate waste. When material and information flow continuously, there is less waste in the system. This is true by definition. If there were a lot of waste, material and information would not be flowing.
The most important thing in creating flow is having a vision of what that means. For me I think that requires having some “No” thinking.
No inventory
No subassemblies
No holding containers
No material handling
No backflow or rework
No defects
No inspection
No paperwork
No computer transactions/systems
No downtime
No delays
No cost
Many will say these are not possible within their organization or industry for that matter. But that would miss the point, which is vision: you may not get there within your lifetime, but try – others certainly will.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Flow is one of five key Lean Principles identified by Womack and Jones in their book Lean Thinking
. They stressed that you need to make value flow. It was this creation of flow that would make it possible to eliminate waste. When material and information flow continuously, there is less waste in the system. This is true by definition. If there were a lot of waste, material and information would not be flowing.The most important thing in creating flow is having a vision of what that means. For me I think that requires having some “No” thinking.
No inventory
No subassemblies
No holding containers
No material handling
No backflow or rework
No defects
No inspection
No paperwork
No computer transactions/systems
No downtime
No delays
No cost
Many will say these are not possible within their organization or industry for that matter. But that would miss the point, which is vision: you may not get there within your lifetime, but try – others certainly will.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Birthday America!
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. We encourage all nations to celebrate with America.
To commerate this day of celebration I will leave you with some fun 4th of July Facts from the US Census Bureau.
Patriotic-Sounding Place Names
31, Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2008, is Liberty, Mo. (30,568). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
•Thirty places have "eagle" in their name -- after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 26,668 residents.
•Eleven places have "independence" in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 110,440 residents.
•Five places adopted the name "freedom." Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these. (This population total is as of the 2000 Census; no population estimate is available for Freedom because it is a census designated place.)
•There is one place named "patriot" -- Patriot, Ind., with a population of 189.
•And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called "America"? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 27,06
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Lean Quote, July 2, 2010: Open-Mindedness
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 this journey because without learning we can not improve.
Feel free to share some of your favorites here as well.
“There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.” - Charles F. Kettering
To have an open mind means to be willing to consider or receive new and different ideas. It means being flexible and adaptive to new experiences and ideas. Having an open mind doesn’t mean accepting everything as truth, but rather being open to new possibilities.
People who are open-minded are willing to change their views when presented with new facts and evidence. Those who are not are resistant to change. When you close your mind and become stubborn you essentially tell yourself and others that you're not willing to go the extra mile - that you're not willing to grow and experience new things. If you are not willing to grow, experience new things and instead choose to be stubborn or closed minded then there can be no change and no progress in life and things will never improve - it's that simple.
An open mind leads to new possibilities. New possibilities lead to new thoughts and experiences. New thoughts and experiences lead to growth. Therefore an open mind is important to our personal growth.
Being open-minded also helps us with problem solving. First it helps us look at more than one way to approach a problem; then we find more expansive, ways of solving it. When we give ourselves more options, better solutions are undoubtedly more available to us. Keeping an open mind means that you are open to all possibilities.
In my opinion being open minded is one of the most important traits for individuals to have in a Lean environment. Without an open mind problem solving and learning will be more difficult and therefore delay your pursuit of excellence.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Feel free to share some of your favorites here as well.
“There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.” - Charles F. Kettering
To have an open mind means to be willing to consider or receive new and different ideas. It means being flexible and adaptive to new experiences and ideas. Having an open mind doesn’t mean accepting everything as truth, but rather being open to new possibilities.
People who are open-minded are willing to change their views when presented with new facts and evidence. Those who are not are resistant to change. When you close your mind and become stubborn you essentially tell yourself and others that you're not willing to go the extra mile - that you're not willing to grow and experience new things. If you are not willing to grow, experience new things and instead choose to be stubborn or closed minded then there can be no change and no progress in life and things will never improve - it's that simple.
An open mind leads to new possibilities. New possibilities lead to new thoughts and experiences. New thoughts and experiences lead to growth. Therefore an open mind is important to our personal growth.
Being open-minded also helps us with problem solving. First it helps us look at more than one way to approach a problem; then we find more expansive, ways of solving it. When we give ourselves more options, better solutions are undoubtedly more available to us. Keeping an open mind means that you are open to all possibilities.
In my opinion being open minded is one of the most important traits for individuals to have in a Lean environment. Without an open mind problem solving and learning will be more difficult and therefore delay your pursuit of excellence.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Guest Post - Featured Lean Thinker: Tim McMahon
Jeff Hajek from the Gotta Go Lean Blog has started a new series of posts in an effort to build on the Lean community. Every Thursday, he will profile a “Featured Lean Thinker”. These are the people who have a voice in the Lean community, and are shaping the way people think about and practice Lean. He will ask each person the same series of questions so you can get to know them a little better.
I am happy to kick off this series and be this weeks Featured Lean Thinker. This is another great way to learn a little more about the man behind the posts from my answers to these questions:
What does Lean mean to you?
What was your first experience with Lean, and how did you know you were hooked?
What is your Lean claim to fame?
Where do you see Lean going in the future? What is on the horizon?
To see my thoughts on Lean view this weeks Featured Lean Thinker, here. While you are there you can also listen to my podcast on frontline leadership with Jeff Hajek.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
I am happy to kick off this series and be this weeks Featured Lean Thinker. This is another great way to learn a little more about the man behind the posts from my answers to these questions:
What does Lean mean to you?
What was your first experience with Lean, and how did you know you were hooked?
What is your Lean claim to fame?
Where do you see Lean going in the future? What is on the horizon?
To see my thoughts on Lean view this weeks Featured Lean Thinker, here. While you are there you can also listen to my podcast on frontline leadership with Jeff Hajek.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Guest Post on Lean Blog about Lean and Green
I had the pleasure to guest post on Mark Graban's Lean Blog while he is on vacation. I took this opportunity to present my thoughts on Lean and the environment (commonly referred to as Green improvements).
Many manufacturers know the benefits of Lean manufacturing: higher productivity, better quality, reduced cycle time, plus enhanced employee engagement. Lean is excellent at marshalling different groups and individuals into a high performing team focused on rooting out waste. That relentless focus on eradicating waste makes Lean a necessary partner for Green...Learn how the the acrynom WASTE can help you prevent or reduce the 5 key enviromental wastes.
Also, I highlight 10 things you can start doing right now to reduce environmental wastes in your business. The benefits of reducing these wastes goes beyond just cost savings.
Click here to read the complete post on LeanBlog.com.
...While the pursuit of Green and Lean is not a destination but a journey it is clear that organizations that stretch themselves to build a culture around the values of Sustainability, Excellence, and Equity will ultimately have a big advantage those who do not. Green and Lean is not a dichotomy rather it can be said being Green is Lean.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Lean Quote, June 25, 2010: Desire
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 this journey because without learning we can not improve.
Feel free to share some of your favorites here as well.
“The winner ain't the one with the fastest car its the one who refuses to lose” - Dale Earnhardt, #3
I picked today's quote in part because I am on my way to the NASCAR race in New Hampshire this weekend and in part from it's lesson. Desire and drive to win (no pun intended) can't be replaced by tools, technology, or engineering. You still need a willingness to win and an overall refusal to lose. Winners aren’t afraid of challenges, they go after them. Winning isn’t something that is handed to you. You must do the preparatory, ground work if you’re going to win. This translates into our lives and our work in the same manner. To improve you must truly want to change and be willing to work hard to make it successful. It is this desire that sets successful individuals apart from others.
Everyone has to start somewhere and not everything will go to plan. The achievers of this world are not discouraged by initial failure, this is fundamental to their success. There is no shame in failing before you finally succeed as all successful people will testify. With every failure comes the chance to learn something new for another opportunity.
All achievements no matter how significant they are to others begin with a burning desire to get the result intended. In the human mind there is a power that is hard to explain. It is the ability to focus positive thoughts on achieving the thing that is wanted most. Success is sometimes a thing that at first seems impossible. The word 'impossible' has no significance to someone who possesses a burning desire.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
Feel free to share some of your favorites here as well.
“The winner ain't the one with the fastest car its the one who refuses to lose” - Dale Earnhardt, #3
I picked today's quote in part because I am on my way to the NASCAR race in New Hampshire this weekend and in part from it's lesson. Desire and drive to win (no pun intended) can't be replaced by tools, technology, or engineering. You still need a willingness to win and an overall refusal to lose. Winners aren’t afraid of challenges, they go after them. Winning isn’t something that is handed to you. You must do the preparatory, ground work if you’re going to win. This translates into our lives and our work in the same manner. To improve you must truly want to change and be willing to work hard to make it successful. It is this desire that sets successful individuals apart from others.
Everyone has to start somewhere and not everything will go to plan. The achievers of this world are not discouraged by initial failure, this is fundamental to their success. There is no shame in failing before you finally succeed as all successful people will testify. With every failure comes the chance to learn something new for another opportunity.
All achievements no matter how significant they are to others begin with a burning desire to get the result intended. In the human mind there is a power that is hard to explain. It is the ability to focus positive thoughts on achieving the thing that is wanted most. Success is sometimes a thing that at first seems impossible. The word 'impossible' has no significance to someone who possesses a burning desire.
If you enjoy this post you may want to connect with me on Linkedin or follow me on Twitter. You can also subscribe to this feed or email to stay updated on all posts. For those Facebook fans join A Lean Journey on our facebook fan page.
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