Comments for The Lean Thinker

Comment on The Whiteboard - Suggest a Topic by Josh

Josh — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:15:33 +0000

Mark - The service company I am employeed with is currently implementing Kaizen events (Pilot) of which I am greatful to be a part of. In order to provide our management with more insight on what currently isn’t working with our company’s culture can you please address your comment below in more detail?

“I should note that most “management by measurement” systems actually encourage people to do things that hurt the overall organization, but that is another article.”

Thanks,
Josh

Comment on The Whiteboard - Suggest a Topic by Danny Gerungan

Danny Gerungan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:13:47 +0000

Mark, you did an awesome job in giving your insights on “kaizen in the office environment”. I am particularly interested to know more about lean thinking applications in the truly non-repetitive process (one time or one-off process) like creating a complex bid or proposal. Since our main business is delivering this “one-off project system”, we never make exactly the same product twice (literarily), we always start from clean slate. We are engineering/project management company. Your further thoughts in this one-off project system process is very appreciated

Thanks,

Danny Gerungan

Comment on Queue Management by Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Management Improvement Carnival #39

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:37:10 +0000

[...] Queue Management by Mark - “the measurement of ‘on time’ is ‘pull away from the gate’ not “leave the ground” so in order to get an ‘on time’ departure, they will load the plane as scheduled, then go sit on the tarmac rather than delaying the passenger load. A great example of ‘management by measurement’ not getting exactly the intended results.” [...]

Comment on “Certifications” - Buying Credibility? by Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Management Improvement Carnival #39

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:36:22 +0000

[...] “Certifications” - Buying Credibility? by Mark Rosenthal - “if you are looking for your own professional development, and look at a program for what it is: An academic education, and possibly an opportunity to establish professional network, then go for it. Just don’t go in believing that ‘being certified’ means a whole lot else.” [...]

Comment on Queue Management by Jim Fernandez

Jim Fernandez — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:32:59 +0000

Oh my gosh. It must be a nightmare to be a “Lean Thinker” in a airport.!!! LOL

My first thought here was the airline probably put their best ticket processor on the “very best customer” line. Then when some other ticket processor has a problem they go to the best ticket processor for help. This happens here where I work.

Two years ago I was put in charge of customer returns. I did such a great job at that they offered me a new job as the company’s first Lean Manager. Now as the Lean Manager I spend half my time helping out with customer returns….. ‘#%*!&^%?!!

Comment on Hospital Error - Heparin in the news again by Jim Fernandez

Jim Fernandez — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:20:17 +0000

I’m sure there is also a large legal component to the voluntary leave.

Thank you Mark for your insight on this. Your concept of finding the “root error” hit’s home with me. I work with customer returns and I see the human errors that are made. At my company we have many inspection operations throughout the process. We manufacture parts for airplanes…

Comment on Hospital Error - Heparin in the news again by Mark Graban

Mark Graban — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:14:04 +0000

It was reported as a “mixing error.” Why they were mixing, I have no idea. Many hospitals (such as Cedar-Sinai, which injured the Quaid twins) buy two separate doses, where the mixup occur there.

Here, maybe they only buy one dose and then dilute it for children’s use? That seems really risky and penny-wise, pound-foolish (but again, I’m speculating).

As I’ve blogged about (and write about in my book), hospitals are too quick to blame individuals instead of looking at process.

To be fair, the people who caused the error probably do feel terrible. It might truly be voluntary leave… many people leave healthcare because they’re devastated an error occurred. But the hospitals are often also quick to suspend or fire people, which isn’t getting to the root cause at all. Sad.

Comment on Long Term Vision vs. Short Term Thinking by Mark

Mark — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:42:26 +0000

Thanks. I was actually in Germany at the with my sleep schedule scrambled when I posted that, a couple of people have pointed out a couple of typos. Fixed.

Comment on The Power of Vision by Mark

Mark — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:40:40 +0000

The last one who did started with the statement “Read my lips…” and ended up losing an election over it.

On another related note, in some parallel universe somewhere, the motorcade passed through Dealy Plaza uneventfully, a speech was given, and Air Force 1 flew back to DC with everyone sitting and joking. I have to wonder, sometimes, what THAT time line looked like by 1968. Can’t say better or worse, but it certainly would have been different.

Comment on Long Term Vision vs. Short Term Thinking by Jim Fernandez

Jim Fernandez — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:06:40 +0000

Good analysis.!!!!
Your sentence in the last paragraph reads,
“Nevertheless, I would contend that Toyota’s generally conservative approach and keeping their eye on the long term serves them better trying to please the analysts.”

Did you mean to say, “Nevertheless, I would contend that Toyota’s generally conservative approach and keeping their eye on the long term serves them better THAN trying to please the analysts.”