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What the Best Lean Leaders All Have in Common
What characterizes a truly exceptional lean leader? With years of first-hand observations behind him, Tom Ehrenfeld weighs in with his…
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Avoiding the Pitfalls of Leader Standard Work
What are some problems a lean practitioner might run into when implementing leader standard work? Ken Abbs and Scott Ullman…
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How and Where Should I Start Using Andons?
Dear Gemba Coach: I understand the andon is an essential part of a lean system, but it seems very far…
Watch video IK/CK at Modine
Modine Manufacturing views practicing the Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata as a way to lead, manage and develop people... in order…
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Lean Fitness: The Individual vs. the Organization
"For both the individual and the organization, the problem is the same," writes Dan Markovitz. "There may be a stated…
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Turn on the Spigot: Create Flow in R&D
"Flow in R&D is as critical as in manufacturing," writes Terry Barnhart. "It is a little more difficult to see,…
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People Don’t Fail, Processes Do
Terry Smith, a lean web developer, shares two examples of real-life companies who used the "5 Whys" to drill down…
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Is your obeya room used for real learning or as a glorified action plan?
Dear Gemba Coach: How can I use an obeya for learning rather than for project management?
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Small Batch: Hand-Picked Articles form the Global Lean Community (Vol. 2)
Our picks for the best high-impact learning stories and columns from Planet Lean.
Read article Is there a way to define standard work for senseis?
Dear Gemba Coach, I’ve been working on lean projects for years and my CEO has now asked me to act as…
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Lean in Japan: The Benefit of an Outsider’s View
"Sometimes when we know a process, culture, or organization too deeply, we struggle to view things as they actually are..."…
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How to Know If Your Team is Ready for Kaizen
"Do we even know what the Kaizen aim of “engaged employees” means, beyond the clichés?" asks lean coach Lesa Nichols.…
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