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What Exactly Is - or Isn't - a Lean System?
Dear Gemba Coach: I’m confused as to what a “lean system” is or should be. Could you clarify?
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Ask Art: What's Wrong with Organizing By Function?
While you might be able to survive and be profitable using a traditional functional structure the fact is that you will be leaving a lot…
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What does developing people mean?
Dear Gemba Coach,Are people tools? Should bosses use people? What does development mean? How should we think about it?
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Taking a Value Stream Walk at Firm A
I was out walking through a company this past week, something I often do. The firm I visited had asked what I thought of their…
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What is leader standard work?
Dear Gemba Coach: Is there such thing as a leader standard work, and, if so, what is it?
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Standards at workstations
Dear Gemba Coach: Our corporate production system asks us to post standard work at workstations, but we feel that the paperwork clutters the stations and operators…
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How is lean different from Taylorism?
In a special column, Michael Ballé breaks from his standard practice of answering readers’ questions to weigh in on the controversy comparing lean management to…
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I’ve been improving process efficiency for years with value-stream mapping, why did you write that it is misleading?
Dear Gemba Coach: In your previous column you stated that value-stream mapping can be misleading. I’ve been using VSM for years to improve process efficiency…
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Ask Art: How Useful is Six Sigma and the Black Belts and Green Belts that Come with It?
Several specific examples demonstrate why lean continuous improvement practices are usually superior to six sigma for solving problems.
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Learning the Hard and Soft Skills of Lean Coaching
While lean is often associated with process improvement, error reduction, and greater efficiency in a wide range of numbers; most veterans argue that above all…
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The Impact of Social Distancing on Assembly Operations
Take a deep-dive look at how GE Appliances and Herman Miller are working on designing a safe work environment for production employees during the Covid-19…
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Ask Art: I Want to Convert My Company to Lean. What Are the First Steps?
The former Wiremold CEO explains the commitment you must make— and the expectations you must set—when you start your continuous-improvement journey.
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5 Ways My Thinking Changed With the Help of a Lean Coach
"Coaching for development is different than being managed," writes Deborah McGee. "Lean coaching in our case was not directing an improvement swat team or teaching…
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Seeing the Work of a Daily Management System
Daily management systems tap visual elements that expose problems, and also use obeyas as thinking spaces for reflecting on broader challenges, says Michael Balle.
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Ask Art: How Much Lean Training Should We Be Doing?
Why aren't more companies successful at Lean? Art Byrne says it has to do with an over-focus on planning and not enough learning-by-doing. "They don’t…
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Isn’t flow the ultimate aim of lean?
Dear Gemba Coach: Isn’t flow the ultimate aim of lean?
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Are computer screens okay for visual management?
Dear Gemba Coach: Can I use computer screens for visual management or is that a big no-no?
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Reach for Your Mind Before Your Wallet
Josh Howell shares how the lean principle of reaching for your mind before your wallet can mitigate risk through careful planning and a willingness to…
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How Stalwart Lean Leadership and Classic Lean Practices Yield Operational and Clinical Excellence
Organizations can achieve the seemingly impossible when they have steadfast lean leadership, a sharp focus on purpose, and experience applying "classic" lean thinking and practice.…
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Lean in the IT Department
Dear Gemba Coach: My company has been doing lean for a while now, and I've been asked to start lean in the IT department. I've…
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