According to the Harvard Business Review, 100 of the largest manufacturers in the United States distributed 48 cents of every dollar earned to buy materials in 2002. Now, 15 years later, manufacturers are spending more than ever on suppliers, so why is there so much discord in their relationships? For starters, manufacturers are in search
READ MOREOn 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
READ MOREWhen it comes to habits David Mann tells the story of Smokey the Bear’s campfire rules. Douse the fire with water, stir the coals and turn them over, then douse again. Not following the rules of Smokey the Bear you risk the fire restarting itself from the live embers that remain. Cultural habits are very
READ MORESustaining improvement is one of the biggest challenges in any Lean transformation. Organizations often implement 5S successfully—but without structure and accountability, processes slowly return to old habits. The solution lies in combining a strong 5S Sustain Phase Implementation Strategy with a structured Layered Process Audit in Lean Manufacturing approach. Below is a structured, practical guide
READ MOREOn 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
READ MOREFor 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
READ MOREOn 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
READ MOREWho doesn’t love LEGOS? It’s fun, it’s practical, and…it’s philosophical. Approach Lean like a LEGO project: brick by brick. “Today I want you to stop worrying about that final plan, and instead focus on just putting the next LEGO brick in the right spot. THAT’S IT.” That’s pretty much how you build with LEGO. One
READ MOREOn 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
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