I get ideas for posts from lots of sources. It may be what is happening right now, where I am making emphasis with my own work. I might read something that generates an idea.
I look at what Google searches brought up this sight since that give me some idea what people are really interested in knowing.
The page is for you, the reader, to be one of those sources. I know a fair number of people who have told me they are reading this, but they don’t leave comments. Now I know for sure that I am not exhausting all known thought on any of this, so this is my attempt to open up another avenue for user interaction and influence.
“Hey, Mark! What do you think about….?”
Of course you are free to just submit general scribbles as well.
Oh - and everything submitted as a comment (like below) goes into a moderation queue. It isn’t published until I see it - and I read them. So if you just want to drop a note, but don’t want it published, that’s no problem. Just say so.
13 Comments
You could talk about the fixed course of the mizusumashi (water spider).
I’m searching a lot in the web for this and there is no material. I found only one paper and this subject is very interesting once it is used a lot in automobiles industry.
Thank You
Luiz Freire
Industrial Engeneering at U.Porto.
Luiz -
You got it. It has been a hot topic of discussion at work lately, so I’ll write something up. Thank you for the suggestion.
Dear Mark,
In this periode of reflection (X-mas and turn of the year): what is exactly the meaning of muri and mura for leadership in (healthcare)organisations?
Could you write something on going Lean and safety in mfg? More and more co. are going lean.
Hi Mark,
After stumbling upon this site, I’ve enjoyed your insight, both in and outside of manufacturing. CAD Design has given me a unique view of office and plant floor interaction. I have observed what seems like 95% of companies’ Lean effort applied to the plant floor while chaos reigns in day-to-day office processes and decision making. This appears to be where most waste and misuse of labor occurs. There is groundbreaking opportunity for improvement! Many, including myself, would enjoy your thoughts and observations on this “paper shuffle” phenomena if you have not commented already.
Sincerely,
Ethan Berry
I enjoyed reading your insights on throughput accounting. I thought you might be interested in Dr. Goldratt’s latest endeavor, The Goldratt Webcast Series - Program One devoted to Critical Chain Project Management. I invite you to check it out on our website above. Best Regards to you and your very informative website. - Judy
Thank you for all your down-to-earth explanation and clear insight into the lean topics. I’d like to join your “lean forces” and promote lean to the community. My website is oriented more towards the lean basics and there I’m trying to add regularly more step-by-step instructions to make the implementation easier.
If you find it useful and would like to exchange links with me, I’d be very honoured.
Anyway, a subject of interest is: Can lean be applied to the creation of websites? What are good examples of websites created using the lean principles? My understanding is that the future belongs to the websites that provide value and knowledge to the reader, as more and more people use the internet to find information and to learn.
Gabriela
Live lean and prosper!
Are lean companies really transparent with their customers and suppliers as to cost/profits. Is this a lean principle or not, or to what extent?
Mark,
What do you think of:
“If you’re not linear, you’re not really lean!” Isn’t it time to eliminate the “Hockey Stick Syndrome?”
Bill
Mark:
I really enjoy reading your writings. You have a fertile mind. I thought I’d shake your tree by sharing a current problem I’m having and see if any fruit falls out……
Hitting The Moving Train
I am the Lean Manager of a company with 140 employees. We make solenoid valves. We have about 150 different types of valves. Every valve is hand made one by one in batches through several processes.
I’m trying to create flow, standardized work, decrease our errors and eliminate our late deliveries. The problem I’m observing is that we have about a 10% turnover rate (workers leaving and being replaced). The wage is rather low here in southern Utah. Consequently we are always training new people. The supervisor takes a batch of 50 valves to a worker and has to explain what he wants to be done. We have written travelers that travel with the batch that explains exactly what to do. However we constantly move people around from cell to cell as needed. Consequently the supervisor needs to make sure the worker understands the job. I also handle customer returns and I see the mistakes that are made.
Everything I read in Lean assumes that the worker is always the same person doing the same function. My problem is I have 100 assembly line workers and 50 of them constantly change their position, location, job function, knowledge and name.
My inclination is to somehow explain to the owners how their employee turnover rate is hurting their production and quality. But I just don’t have the expertise to do that.
Bottom line is, I have a company that manufactures color, all different colors. How do I apply Lean principles to the chameleons that work here?
Thanks,
Jim Fernandez
I saw the animated movie “Meet the Robinsons” after it ended, before the credits, they gave the following quote:
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious- and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Walt Disney
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
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
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