Faculty

Mark Reich

During his extensive career, Mark has led lean transformations and coached executives in various companies and business sectors. Clients include GE Appliances and Ingersoll Rand…

Article

Working on the Management

Effective daily management is still hard to achieve for most organizations, says Jim Womack. But until line managers start tackling problems first hand as they…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Video

How the A3 Came to Be Toyota’s Go-To Management Process for Knowledge Work (intro by John Shook)

A3 thinking is synonymous with Toyota. Yet many often wonder how exactly this happened. Even if we know A3 thinking was created at Toyota, how…

by Isao Yoshino

Article

Yes, Lean is About Cost Reduction

Why focus on cost reduction? Because many of the cost-saving kaizens of are simpler and require less engineering resources, and this type of kaizen motivates…

by Mark Reich

Article

Building the Mindset and Skillset to Improve from the Board Room to the Classroom

A school district superintendent describes how lean thinking and practice transformed a failing district into a nationally recognized model of continuous improvement.

by Pat Greco

Article

Why does kaizen feel like chaos?

Dear Gemba Coach: Why does kaizen always feel so destabilizing?

by Michael Ballé

Article

What topics, tools, and techniques would you include in an MBA-level course on teaching lean concepts?

Dear Gemba Coach: I am designing an MBA-level course to teach lean concepts.  What topics, tools, and techniques would you include in a 7-week, 14-session…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Leadership and Having an Effective Plan

You wouldn’t want to be known as a source of “fake news” but are you practicing

by Andrew Quibell

Article

Growing from a Tactical Practitioner to a Strategic Thinker

One helpful way to move from being a tactical leader to a strategic one is to suggest that a better alternative exists and put people…

by Andrew Quibell

Article

Align Your Continuous Improvement Efforts: Practical Tips from 4 CEOs in 4 Major Business Sectors

Four CEOs who are leading lean management voices in the critical economic sectors of manufacturing, supply chain, healthcare, and education, offer advice on aligning your…

by Chet Marchwinski

Article

How the A3 Process Developed to Help Build Better Managers

One of the hallmarks of a successfully executed A3 process is that it is a collaborative activity--a learning process for everyone involved: for learner and…

by Isao Yoshino

Article

CRIISSP: The Lean Route to a Superior Stock Market Valuation

Long-term lean thinker and investment guru Cliff Ransom shares a seven-letter acronym, CRIISSP, to help identify the key (and most valued) qualities of superior lean…

by Cliff Ransom

Article

An interview with Gary Convis on A3 thinking and lean leadership

Lean veteran Gary Convis explains how the A3 report serves as a flexible tool that develops leaders and aligns important goals across plants, divisions, and…

Article

Spring Spotlight: Creating the Purposeful Enterprise

Information and insights that explore the many facets of this fundamental lean concept. A compilation of the articles published as part of an occasional series…

by Lean Leaper

Article

Find One Second of Waste

Coach Tracey Richardson shows you how she learned the importance of looking for waste everywhere, and how you can start being focused on finding it…

by Tracey Richardson

Article

Do you use Japanese terms in your lean transformation or purposely avoid them? Why?

Recently we asked our community "Do you use Japanese terms in your lean transformation or purposely avoid them? Why?" Below is a list of all…

by Lean Enterprise Institute

Article

Why You Need to Understand The Purpose of Purposeful Enterprise

Work with your team to articulate your purpose, as this shared statement will align the many aspects of your pragmatic lean improvement work, says Tom…

by Tom Ehrenfeld

Article

How Lean Thinking and Practice Helped Put Shots in Arms, Part 1: Building the Process

Does lean thinking work during a crisis? An in-depth review of its contribution to the design and management of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's…

by Ryan Haley, Crystal R. Tubbs and Peter Ward

Podcast

2021's Top Posts: Insights that Will Enhance Your Lean Thinking and Practice

This year's most popular Lean Posts feature thought leadership and guidance on several issues that are challenging for even the most advanced lean practitioner.

by Lean Leaper

Podcast

What’s the Problem?: Andrew Lingel Discusses Transforming a Family Business through Knowledge, Grit, and Outrage

In this What's the Problem? podcast with Matt Savas, President Andrew Lingel of United Plastic Fabricating shares how he helped lead a transformation in this…

by Matthew Savas