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The Lean Post / Articles / New Year 2009

Article graphic image with repeating icons

Problem Solving

New Year 2009

By John Shook

January 5, 2009

During one of my final company visits last year, I was asked by a young engineer in South America, “Why do you recommend lean?” His question had a slightly challenging tone and he appeared poised to dispute my answer, whatever it may have been.  I answered without thinking, “Because it can make people’s lives better.”

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During one of my final company visits last year, I was asked by a young engineer in South America, “Why do you recommend lean?” His question had a slightly challenging tone and he appeared poised to dispute my answer, whatever it may have been.

I answered without thinking, “Because it can make people’s lives better.” His challenging demeanor vanished; his eyes sparkled with curiosity and even — forgive if this sounds like hyperbole — hope.

It is indeed my hope that lean will make all of our lives better, something that, we desperately need wherever we are in the world after a tumultuous 2008. Here’s to a prosperous and happy — a better — 2009.

My lean year’s resolution: “Muda wa muda o yobu.”

You know what muda means. “Yobu” is a verb meaning “to call” so “muda wa muda o yobu means something like “you have to call muda, muda”. Or, when you see muda, you must call it out — the first step toward making things better.

See you next week.

John Shook
Senior Advisor
Lean Enterprise Institute

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Written by:

John Shook

About John Shook

John Shook learned about lean management while working for Toyota for 11 years in Japan and the U.S., helping it transfer production, engineering, and management systems from Japan to NUMMI and other operations around the world. While at Toyota’s headquarters, he became the company’s first American kacho (manager) in Japan.…

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