Press Release

Lean Supply Chain, Logistics, Distribution, and Warehousing Training Announced by the Lean Enterprise Institute

Two practical, how-two workshops will run September 23-26, 2014, at a working supply chain operations center so attendees can experience lean principles in action.

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A Postcard — with Leadership Insights — from Nashville

A look back at LEI’s Lean Transformation Summit in 2018 shares a few tips from CEO keynoters on how to successfully lead with lean thinking…

by John Shook

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For Lean Thinkers, "Clutch" Offers Lessons in Planning and Leading

Read an excerpt from Paul Sullivan's new book Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't, discussing what made Toyota a clutch performer…

by Paul Sullivan

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The Manufacturing Waste Series: Introduction

In the first installment of his new series on waste, Andrew Quibell's latest sketch introduces his take on why kaizen efforts often fail to achieve…

by Andrew Quibell

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Why Value-Stream Mapping is So Difficult in the Public Sector

Identifying value in an organization isn't the easiest task to accomplish. If you happen to work in the public sector, that fact goes double. Public-sector…

by Cameron Ford and Gavin Martin

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Your Conversations on Lean Thinking and Practice in Healthcare

Check out the conversation topics (and report outs) from the Open Space learning session at the Lean Healthcare Transformation Summit last week in LA!

by Darlene Dumont

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Believe in One Thing All the Way

Who is a “superhero” in our companies, asks Darril Wilburn in this inspiring piece: Is it the person that can outperform nine others by three…

by Darril Wilburn

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Creating Lean Healthcare

Ten years ago this month I made a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s large medical complex in Rochester, Minnesota. I was not there as a…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

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You Can't Know If You Don't Know

Recently LEI Chairman and CEO John Shook found an interesting blog by Dr. Helen Kales of the University of Michigan, musing on a powerful set…

by John Shook

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Part 2: What is the best lean way to understand VALUE (in terms of what our customers want)?

Dear Gemba Coach,   What is the best lean way to understand VALUE (in terms of what our customers want)

by Michael Ballé

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I want to apply lean to engineering. Any thoughts?

Dear Gemba Coach: I am the regional manufacturing VP of a large industrial company. After the latest reorganization, engineering now comes under me. I’ve had…

by Michael Ballé

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Can a pull system with zero stock make the company more fragile?

Dear Gemba Coach: Can a pull system with zero stock make the company more fragile?

by Michael Ballé

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An A3 Antidote to the Opiate Epidemic

Opiate use in America has been spiking at an alarming rate. Many healthcare organizations, such as the University of Michigan Medical School, are trying to…

by Ryan Howard

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Continuous Improvement is Good, But Is It Lean?

Take a look at your organization. Is Lean clearly directed and connected to strategy? Are senior leaders directly involved in specifying the process improvements needed?…

by Dave LaHote

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What Do Sensei Actually Do?

What do lean sensei do? Take you to the gemba, discuss what the real challenges are, prescribe exercises, teach PDCA, and push you to the…

by Dan Jones

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Innovation in the Work

LEI's chairman explores the meaning of “innovation” and lean thinking’s relationship to it, bringing a fresh perspective to challenge traditional comparisons.

by John Shook

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Respect for People Means Taking Care with Your Questions

Asking effective questions is an art in and of itself, says Karen Gaudet, in this excerpt from her new book, Steady Work. Of the many…

by Karen Gaudet

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Product Development Is Where to Cut Carbon Emissions; Here's How

Consumers want products updated more frequently, which is great for consumers and business but not so great for the environment because a third of man-made…

by Katrina Appell, PhD

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How should I accelerate my own learning?

Dear Gemba Coach: How should I accelerate my own learning?

by Michael Ballé

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The Business Case for Kaizen

Dear Gemba Coach: I can see the benefits kaizen has brought our company, but find it hard to formulate the argument persuasively. Is there a…

by Michael Ballé