Article

Your Product Isn't Everything, It's the Only Thing

Jim Morgan, former product/process development executive at Ford (and co-author of The Toyota Product Development System), reflects on what should really matter to you and…

by Jim Morgan

Article

Designing Hospitals in Collaboration with Patients and Families

LEI coach Danielle Blais shares her reflections on a recent visit to Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, a hospital built from the ground up using…

by Danielle McGuiness

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Finding a Lean Cure that Respects the Health of Healthcare Workers

In his prognosis of the health care system, LEI CEO Eric Buehrens says we need to improve the work to remove waste and create value;…

by Eric Buehrens

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Coaching Effectively Within Takt Time

When time is of the essence and work just needs to be done, how do you help someone improve their work or solve a problem…

by Jeff Smith

Article

How to More Effectively Change Mindsets through Coaching

In her many years as a coach, Karyn Ross has found an alternative to the current paradigm of changing mindsets. The Lean Post recently sat…

by Karyn Ross

Article

Why Leadership and "Respect" Are Fundamentally Entwined

Hear the word "respect" and most of us can think of a time we've wanted our boss, team member, or employee to "be more respectful."…

by Michael Ballé

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Enabling Change Through the Power of Story

Roberto Priolo, editor of Planet Lean, shares why not just reflection, but writing (and storytelling) is so helpful for the lean practitioner. In short, a…

by Roberto Priolo

Article

Toyota the Bad Guy

Recently I am cornered frequently by beleaguered lean change agents eager to show me their scars inflicted by re-energized resistors. Lean naysayers have seized the…

by John Shook

Article

Is Lean Thinking Art or Science? Yes

Calling the recent book Lean Conversations a landmark initiative on lean and the arts, John Shook observes that "If Jean Cocteau’s famous observation that 'art…

by John Shook

Article

Managing To Learn in Sloan Management Review

John Shook discusses Managing to Learn in two Sloan Management Review articles

by John Shook

Article

The Tesla Way vs. The Toyota Way

Does Tesla offer a Way of working that can challenge TPS? Perhaps a bit more time, and the development of a complete Tesla Business System,…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

Value Stream Walk, Management Walk or….Just Walking Around?

Gemba Walks can raise consciousness about problems and the possibilities for dramatic improvements, says Jim Womack. Or they can serve as a means of reinforcing…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

The “Right Sequence” for Implementing Lean

One of the best things about leading the Lean Enterprise Institute is that I travel widely to learn how things are going across the Lean…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

The Lab is Open

Why it's important to create a way to challenge assumptions and develop know-how, solve problems, and continuously improve--even during a crisis.

by Josh Howell

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React Less and Improve More by Using SPC More Effectively

When we stop reacting to “noise” in a metric, we can better focus our improvement efforts, waste less time, and improve more, says Mark Graban.…

by Mark Graban and Mark Graban

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Do you find yourself surrounded by uneven workflows?

Do you find yourself surrounded by uneven workflows? Of course you do, it is natural. Almost everything has ebbs and flows. And when it comes…

Article

Out of Fertile "Pre-Lean" Soil Bloom Lean Leaders

A new generation of leaders varies in individual styles but shares common beliefs that create a foundation for successful lean transformations, collectively identified here as…

Article

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

"What the leader demonstrates as important is what the team will focus on," writes Erin Urban. "If we are to be the change we wish…

by Erin Urban

Article

Eiji Toyoda and Management Muda

Enthusiasts know how tremendously influential Eiji Toyoda has been to the development of Toyota and its revolutionary management system. Perhaps his story will never be…

by John Shook

Article

New Book Explains How to Create “Steady Work” in Unsteady Times with Standardized Work Cadences

In Steady Work, the new book from the Lean Enterprise Institute, author and former Starbucks’ Regional Manager Karen Gaudet offers astute business guidance for turbulent…

by Karen Gaudet and Chet Marchwinski