Future State? Blow Up the Current State. TAGS: anchors | bias | blow | continuous improvement | current | downstream | future | game changing | ideal | improvement | innovations | kaizen | lean blitz consulting | machine | map | mushroom cloud | operations | optimization | process | six sigma | sports | start over | state | steps | system | tasks | up | upstream | vamoose Sometimes when we look to create an ideal future state of a process or situation, we are so heavily anchored in the non-ideal current state that our biases and familiarity …Continue reading →

Toyota Way Principle #8 and Implementing Technology that Helps TAGS: activities | blitz | client | computer | consulting | current | director | expectation | future | identification | lean | manager | manual | map | mapping | money | note | operations | optimize | people | post-it | principle | process | projects | provider | requirement | resource | risk | serve | six sigma | solution | sports | state | technology | time | time study | toyota | waste | way One of my current clients has a two-pronged plan for improving a process that is absorbing a lot of resources (people, time, risk, money). The first prong is to optimize …Continue reading →

Defective Product and Making a Wrong Turn TAGS: accurate | blitz | defects | document | garmin | gps | lean | map | mapquest | operations | process | resources | rework | scrap | self-discipline | six sigma | sports | standardized | tomtom | transportation | utilization | work To continue the unintentional theme of cars as metaphors for lean… I equate the creation of defective products and services to making a wrong turn and getting lost while driving. …Continue reading →

Lean Tools: 5S Will Revolutionize Your Workspace (Or Your Money Back) TAGS: 5S | blitz | fixtures | lean | map | organizations | processes | safety | scan | set in order | shine | sort | sports | standardize | steady state | straighten | sustain | tools (This is the first in a series of posts about the lean tools.) So now we know about the lean wastes and how they are the enemy of productivity and …Continue reading →