

Lean in One Drawing
by Dave LaHoteOne of the challenges in getting results from lean thinking is to understand lean as a system rather than just a collection of tools. Many organizations start applying lean tools in an effort to improve efficiency. In the short term, this method of application can harvest some low-hanging fruit as waste is everywhere.
However, lean has the power to fundamentally change an organization if we see it as a system. When I teach workshops or speak to small groups I attempt to demonstrate this in one flipchart drawing. This lean in one drawing illustrates how the tools work together with a management system and philosophy designed to support workers and help them be successful in their jobs. Recently, I turned my hand-drawn flip chart into a whiteboard video. Here is my concept of thinking about lean as a system and to demonstrate the linkage between lean tools and how the system can create organizational advantage.
So, watch my video and then pick one of your key processes and ask yourself to what extent you have all the pieces of the system in place as I have described. I’ll bet you'll have some missing connections that you can focus on improving. Share the video with others to help your organization better understand lean as a system and use it to diagnose your own important processes to judge how well you are doing at creating basic stability.
David Verble, Eric Ethington, Ernie Richardson, John Shook, Josh Howell, Karen Gaudet, Mark Reich & Tracey Richardson
5 | People AGREE with this reply |
I have found that people are natural problem solvers. In organizations the key is to solve problems at the approprite level. Workers need to solve problems associated with their work with a continuous improvement mentality always making things a little better. Supervisors need to be involved on larger issues that go beyond the standard work of the worker. Managers need to be looking at issues that cut across departments or organizational boundries. My advice is solve problems as close to the source of the problem as possible. Good luck and thanks for the comments.
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2 | People AGREE with this reply |
Hi Dave, Thank you for the thoughts on lean as a system. It is right on target. I interface with many people at all levels that have been "Lean trained" only to find out they have been instructed on the tools but not on the whole system or how to use the tools together or what the appropriate tool(s) are for the task at hand. How can I get a copy of the final drawing from your video? I would like to use it in educating the staff at my work in Lean as a system if that is ok with you. IF it is ok please send pdf to dcoates@bidplymouth.org. Thanks again for the video. Dennis
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hello Dave
i support totally what you are explaining . It is simple , clear and efficient.
I am very often surprised to discuss with people who have a very good knowledge of the lean tools and behave like expert , but who at the end of the discussion confesse that they never made or understood how all the tools are linked together as a global system . I would appreciate if you could send me the video also.
thanks in advance
jean Marc
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Thank you. Would you please email the final PDF of your Lean in One drawing?
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Hi David,
Nicely explained concept of lean as a system.
Would appreciate if you could email me pdf of full page drawing explaining the concept.
Warm regards,
Manik
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Thank you Manik. If you send me your email address I'll send you a Pdf of the drawing.
Dave
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I found many things in your short illustration. Thanks for the presentation.
If possible I am interested to get details information about lean system as PPT, PDF or any format.
My use bellow address :
idevemrul gmail com
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1 | Person AGREES with this comment |
David, Thank you for the simple illustration of what a Lean System looks like at the shop floor to drive stability. I shared your videos with my team and leaders throughout our organization since we're putting a much greater effort in creating model areas such as you described. Much Thanks!
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Thank you for your comments Frank. One of the settings I commonly teach in is healthcare. When I do my drawing in that setting I use the story of blood pressure monitoring equipment in the Emergency Department not working and explain what a closed loop system with standards (equipment always available and working) visual control, andon and response sytem with problem solving could look like for that situation. My point is we need this basic stability thinking everywhere from the shop floor to the office in all types of organizations. I'm glad you are finding the video helpful.
Best Regards,
Dave
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I would also be interested in a copy of the final drawing.
leanbriancarroll@gmail.com
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I love it! Simple yet elegant way of illustrating Lean as a system. I will be sharing this with the leaders at our hospital. Can I get a copy of the pdf?
Great Work!
Henry
hjparente@cmh.edu
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This is a great video in concept and presentation. Thanks for sharing.
I would also appreciate a pdf copy of the drawing. Thank you!
kelley.brandt@bristowgroup.com
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Excellent video, Dave! Very concise, accurate, engaging video that explains a lean system. Kudos for presenting this in a neutral way that people from all industries can relate to well! I will be passing this link along to many!
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Thanks Dave. You show in a very simple and concise way an overview of the system requirements for lean. Spot on.
I'd love to have a copy of your finished drawing to share if you don't mind.
My email is danbrown@leansixs.com
Thanks,
Dan
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Hi, Dave,
Thanks very much for this great mini-teach. Very concise and easy to follow.
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Hello Dave, this is just what we need in my organization to tie it all together for senior managers and others.
I would appreciate a PDF of the drawing as well silvester.komlodi@gmail.com
Thanks!
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Great video Dave - elegantly and simply illustrating the basics of Lean. I'd be grateful for a copy of the pdf too please. michael.hutchman@iggesund.com
Thanks,
Michael.
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Great post, full of common sense. The video is an excellent summary of the Lean thinking and using terminology and sentences that lean-agnostic people will easily understand.
Congratulations!
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Thanks Iker. You touch on an important point that sometimes we let our enthusiasm for lean and our "lean speak" get in the way of explaining a process oriented way to think about how organizations operate. We would all do better by keeping it simple.
Regards,
Dave
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Hello Dave,
Love the simplicity of your system drawing. Such a clean and powerful concept. Would appreciate a copy!
Thanks...Brian
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Dave thank you for taking the time to create this great way to depict the way it works when done well. Please send me a copy of the pdf. I'm grateful for your work and how it supports my work! Thank you,
Linda
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Linda thank you for your comments. If you email me at dave@davelahote.com I'll have your email address and I'll send you the PDF.
Dave
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Hi David,
I keep coming back to your video multiple times to help people get a better grasp of the close loop production system we're aiming to establish. I typically add a couple of slides to connect it to other things we're doing with respect to standard work for leaders & training/ knowledge management.
It's had such a good reaction, that it's led me to reach out to you with the intent of creating a similar drawing video that integrates other components of our production & support system. Would you be willing to talk for a few minutes about this?
Thank you,
Frank Castillo
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Dave, many thanks for taking the time to provide the narrated drawing! I would also like to obtain an approved copy of your one-page drawing for use in helping leaders and front line staff that I coach to better understand a Lean system.
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I would love to have a copy of the pdf as well, for use with coaching in a clinic and office settings.
Thank You!
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Thank you Kelley. Since the Lean Post does not show email addresses, please send me a request at my email address and I'll be glad to reply. Click on my name in the article to get my email address.
Dave
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Excellent video, David! Thank you very much! You are a good man.
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Hi Dave, I found your video to be very helpful. Would you mind sharing a PDF copy of the drawing? tiffh (at) med (dot) umich (dot) edu
Thanks so much in advance!
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Dave,
Exceptional video. I will be sharing with my team tomorrow. I like your practical, no-nonsense approach!
Chris
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Great video...would you be able to send me a copy of the finished pdf? complete system is the key...thanks
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Thank you Robert. Please send me an email so I can send you the Pdf. Click on my name in the article for my email.
Dave
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Hi Dave, I'm planning to do my management project on strategic decision making using SWOT Analysis and Balanced Scorecard. Can you please tell me is there any scope of introducing lean to the entire project. Also, can I add lean management along with SWOT and BSC In my project
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Hi Zubair. Thank you for your interest. SWOT and Balanced Scorecard are two tools that can help with strategic decision making. Lean thinkers also have tools that they use for such tasks. Hoshin planning and A3s are two tools used to help develop and implement strategy. I wrote a post awhile back about strategy called "What strategy is and what it is not" that you may find interesting If you want more information about Hoshin and A3 just use the search engine on lean.org
Thanks
Dave
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Hie David
Thank you very much for your clear explanation. im cuurently studying new concepts to emplement in our organisation. Could you please send me the pdf copy so i can share with my colegues. thank you
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How do i use the learn principle to allign this with my teams vision?
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Thank you for the question. I will assume that your team's vision is the strategy you want to accomplish. This should lead to some measures which would become the "Standard" you want to maintain that I reference in the drawing. Next what is the standardized work that will enable your team to accomplish the standard and how can you put this process in visual control. Finally how can team members ask and get help when they are unable to accomplish the standard. I hope this helps. Regards
Dave
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David Verble, Eric Ethington, Ernie Richardson, John Shook, Josh Howell, Karen Gaudet, Mark Reich & Tracey Richardson
excellent video, thanks!
What you recommend when people reach out your limit in solving problems?
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