Lean Quote: Still the question recurs “can we do better?”

In Guest Post, Lean Quote
August 31, 2012
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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.

“Still the question recurs “can we do better?” The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the storm present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think anew, and act anew.” — President Abraham Lincoln in his Annual Address to Congress (December 1, 1862)

Lean Leaders and Lean Thinkers should rally around this great quote from a great President. Can we do better? The answer was “YES!” which President Lincoln made clear as he exhorted all who would listen to think anew and act anew.

The answer was yes during the Civil War years and it is yes at your work site today. The harder question is “how?” How will you think and act anew? Do you need to think anew about an old issue that has been causing waste at your site? Do you need to think anew about how to make your process even better? Do you need to think anew about your problem solving methodology? Does your organization need to think anew and act anew by embarking on the Lean Journey?

Many organizations have been on the Lean Journey for some time. Many others are just starting or have not yet started. All need to think anew and act anew.

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Today’s Lean Quote is by Christian Paulsen who has guest blogged a number of times. He authors the Blog Lean Leadership. Christian Paulsen helps companies optimize performance. He is a Lean – TPM facilitator and adds value to organizations by driving continuous process improvements and bottom line cost savings. Christian is a Consultant who brings 20 years of manufacturing leadership experience and Lean Manufacturing expertise.

Christian’s experience includes the use of Lean principles in Food and Beverage manufacturing plants using a variety tools. Christian successfully led Kaizen Teams with a track record of yield and efficiency gains, process improvement, cost reduction, as well as safety and quality improvement in ten manufacturing plants competing in highly competitive markets. Christian’s experience also includes the TPM Instructor Course training and leading the implementations of 5S, Autonomous Maintenance, TPM, PDCA, DMAIC, and Six Sigma.

Christian attended Purdue University on a Navy ROTC scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. After serving in the US Navy, Christian pursued a career in manufacturing with Frito-Lay, Unilever (Lipton), and Nestle USA as well as smaller private manufacturers. Christian also has MBA coursework at Lehigh and Regent Universities. Christian is a husband, father, and a follower of Jesus Christ.