Tim McMahon and Jeff Hajek talk about the proven steps you should use to create an effective value stream map. Value stream mapping (VSM) is ideal for creating positive organizational changes, developing efficient future states, and producing system-wide benefits in cost, quality, and flexibility. It is well suited for a broad range of industries and processes.
READ MOREHave a passion for Lean Thinking? Do you have a story, lesson, or example to share? Maybe you are thinking of starting a blog of your own. Why not give it a try by being a guest blogger on ALeanJourney.com. Audience Reach: A Lean Journey Blog has a fast growing audience:
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 MOREProcess maps and the further extension of value stream maps are an extremely powerful way to visualize your process. I am a big advocate of creating process maps and value stream maps manually. When you do it manually, it establishes an environment where more participation is possible, which is critically important for the creation of
READ MOREGenerally a horseshoe or U-Shaped work area layout that enables workers to easily move from one process to another in close proximity and pass parts between workers with little effort. Work cells do not need to be in a U-shaped configuration though this is often common due to maximizing product throughput with minimal use of
READ MOREI am pleased to announce a new sponsor to A Lean Journey Blog – First American Plastic Molding Enterprises. First American Plastic Molding Enterprises is a custom provider of thermoplastic injection molding manufacturing solutions for companies throughout most industries. Because of the versatility of plastic and plastic injection molding, almost any industry with manufacturing needs
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 MORELast November, ASQ, together with organizations, leaders, and stakeholders in the Global Quality Community, celebrated the inaugural World Quality Month. This year ASQ is again joining with the Global Quality Community for World Quality Month 2011. “Consumers and other businesses will seek to interact with those organizations whose commitment to quality is strongest, or in
READ MOREMy friend Bob Emiliani recently shared a collection of videos from a research project he led on Wiremold’s Lean transformation in 2001. These historic videos capture an amazing event that took place on 5 November 2001, when a group of more than 25 executives, physicians, and department managers from Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) made
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