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Competition Equals Lean?
Those of us in the lean movement know that even in highly competitive industries like autos, companies can go for…
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Creating Basic Stability
The lean movement's founder explains why you must achieve consistent operational availability before introducing continuous flow.
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The Backbone of Lean in the Back Shops
Learn why the lean concept of every part, every interval (EPEI) is the “backbone” of lean in this aerospace machine…
View case study Standardized Worrying
Years ago when Dan Jones and I first visited Toyota in Japan, we were struck by something that seemed out…
Read article Helpful Hints about Mapping off the Plant Floor in Support of Administrative Operations
Off the shop floor, the distinctions between material and information flows often blurs. Here are nine suggestions from LEI author…
Read article Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Value-Stream Mapping
Mike Rother, co-author of Learning to See, offers some insights about the dos, don’ts, and maybes of value-stream mapping.
Read article The Wonder of Level Pull
Many years ago in Toyota City I first witnessed the twin concepts of level production and the smooth pull of…
Read article Lean Transformation Lives and Dies With Tools and Dies
The story of The Wiremold Company's lean transformation is familiar to many Lean Thinkers. But what isn't as well known…
View case study Lean Beyond the Factory
I've been thinking a lot recently about just what a business really is. As a lean process thinker, my best…
Read article Adding Cost or Creating Value?
I was out on tour this past week, listening to companies' stories as they try to achieve a "lean" transformation.…
Read article Misunderstandings About Value Stream Mapping, Flow Analysis, and Takt Time
Value-stream mapping is not flow analysis, but rather a simple tool that guides you through the process of analysis to…
Read article Lean Thinking Therapy Spreads Beyond the Shop
Medtronic Xomed expanded the lean transformation beyond the shop floor to areas such as international distribution, product development, and domestic…
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