Message to Manufacturers: “Catapult the Cow” November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, manufacturing.Tags: lean, manufacturing
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Gary Conner, author of several lean books, writes a persuasive article on the Lean Blog and offers advice and inspiration to manufacturers in the midst of the current financial crisis. As an analogy, he notes that most people have seen the scene in the Monty Python movie where a cow get catapulted onto medieval warriors during a seige. He describes the actual situation that this comical scene is based on – one that called for unusual actions in unusual times.
Conner recommends that hunkering down and waiting a few months will only get us several months deeper into trouble. Manufacturers in tough times must move aggressively – often in contrarian directions. He suggests that business focus on the diligent application of lean to deal with these tough times. Not business as usual. Not pulling back. Not becoming passive. And not a “Hail Mary”. Conner is talking about an active move forward in a new direction that gets results. “And now,” as John Cleese would say, “for something completely different.”
Read his comments here. We couldn’t agree more.
Message to Manufacturers: "Catapult the Cow" November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, manufacturing.Tags: lean, manufacturing
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Gary Conner, author of several lean books, writes a persuasive article on the Lean Blog and offers advice and inspiration to manufacturers in the midst of the current financial crisis. As an analogy, he notes that most people have seen the scene in the Monty Python movie where a cow get catapulted onto medieval warriors during a seige. He describes the actual situation that this comical scene is based on – one that called for unusual actions in unusual times.
Conner recommends that hunkering down and waiting a few months will only get us several months deeper into trouble. Manufacturers in tough times must move aggressively – often in contrarian directions. He suggests that business focus on the diligent application of lean to deal with these tough times. Not business as usual. Not pulling back. Not becoming passive. And not a “Hail Mary”. Conner is talking about an active move forward in a new direction that gets results. “And now,” as John Cleese would say, “for something completely different.”
Read his comments here. We couldn’t agree more.
Message to Manufacturers: “Catapult the Cow” November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, manufacturing.Tags: lean, manufacturing
add a comment
Gary Conner, author of several lean books, writes a persuasive article on the Lean Blog and offers advice and inspiration to manufacturers in the midst of the current financial crisis. As an analogy, he notes that most people have seen the scene in the Monty Python movie where a cow get catapulted onto medieval warriors during a seige. He describes the actual situation that this comical scene is based on – one that called for unusual actions in unusual times.
Conner recommends that hunkering down and waiting a few months will only get us several months deeper into trouble. Manufacturers in tough times must move aggressively – often in contrarian directions. He suggests that business focus on the diligent application of lean to deal with these tough times. Not business as usual. Not pulling back. Not becoming passive. And not a “Hail Mary”. Conner is talking about an active move forward in a new direction that gets results. “And now,” as John Cleese would say, “for something completely different.”
Read his comments here. We couldn’t agree more.
Hyundai Names Lean-Production Expert to Top Post November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in automotive, Lean Thinking, manufacturing.Tags: automotive, Lean Thinking
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John Krafcik, one of the foremost U.S. experts on lean manufacturing, has been named the new acting president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. The unexpected announcement was made Monday. Krafcik, 47, is an American who worked on the International Motor Vehicle Program at MIT (immortalized in The Machine That Changed the World).
Edmunds.com reported the shakeup here and further interpreted the implications of the move: One of the men who helped to define “lean” in auto manufacturing is now charged with helping Hyundai Motor America navigate rough waters.
The Lean Blog takes a lean twist, of course, pondering first how the fortunes of the Detroit Three might be different if they had process thinkers at their helm instead of financial people. It then (rightfully) notes that in the press coverage of the plight of Detroit that comparisons with Toyota have been minimal and the role of lean in the predicament of GM, Ford, and Chrysler relative to other companies who are turning a profit (or at least not turning as deep a loss) has been completely absent. Good points. You can read them here.
Hyundai Names Lean-Production Expert to Top Post November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in automotive, Lean Thinking, manufacturing.Tags: automotive, Lean Thinking
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John Krafcik, one of the foremost U.S. experts on lean manufacturing, has been named the new acting president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. The unexpected announcement was made Monday. Krafcik, 47, is an American who worked on the International Motor Vehicle Program at MIT (immortalized in The Machine That Changed the World).
Edmunds.com reported the shakeup here and further interpreted the implications of the move: One of the men who helped to define “lean” in auto manufacturing is now charged with helping Hyundai Motor America navigate rough waters.
The Lean Blog takes a lean twist, of course, pondering first how the fortunes of the Detroit Three might be different if they had process thinkers at their helm instead of financial people. It then (rightfully) notes that in the press coverage of the plight of Detroit that comparisons with Toyota have been minimal and the role of lean in the predicament of GM, Ford, and Chrysler relative to other companies who are turning a profit (or at least not turning as deep a loss) has been completely absent. Good points. You can read them here.
Author John Kotter on Why Urgency Matters During Change November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in change management.Tags: change management
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Kotter’s new book, A Sense of Urgency (Harvard Business School Press, 2008), attempts to deconstruct change by focusing on what he believes to be the first step: driving an organizational culture built on the belief that change is not only desirable but must be pursued relentlessly. This alone can eliminate the risks of complacency, he argues. In his book, Kotter explores what it takes to maintain an urgent atmosphere in a corporation. First, allowing outside influences in; second, encouraging change consistently, on a daily basis, not just when it appears necessary; third, looking for the opportunities that arise in a crisis, no matter how dire; and fourth, adeptly managing the “no-nos” — employees who insist that change efforts just won’t work.
Read the discussion with Kotter in business+strategy magazine here.
Author John Kotter on Why Urgency Matters During Change November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in change management.Tags: change management
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Kotter’s new book, A Sense of Urgency (Harvard Business School Press, 2008), attempts to deconstruct change by focusing on what he believes to be the first step: driving an organizational culture built on the belief that change is not only desirable but must be pursued relentlessly. This alone can eliminate the risks of complacency, he argues. In his book, Kotter explores what it takes to maintain an urgent atmosphere in a corporation. First, allowing outside influences in; second, encouraging change consistently, on a daily basis, not just when it appears necessary; third, looking for the opportunities that arise in a crisis, no matter how dire; and fourth, adeptly managing the “no-nos” — employees who insist that change efforts just won’t work.
Read the discussion with Kotter in business+strategy magazine here.
Procrastinating Again? How to Kick the Habit November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in personal productivity.Tags: personal productivity
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Scientific American recently ran this article, the key concepts of which are:
- Almost everyone occasionally procrastinates, but a worrisome 15 to 20 percent of adults routinely put off activities that would be better accomplished right away.
- A penchant for postponement carries a financial penalty, endangers health, harms relationships and ends careers. And yet perpetual foot-draggers sometimes benefit emotionally from their tactics, which support the human inclination to avoid the disagreeable.
- Research into the reasons people put off projects has led to strategies for helping all of us get and stay on task.
Read the article here.
Procrastinating Again? How to Kick the Habit November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in personal productivity.Tags: personal productivity
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Scientific American recently ran this article, the key concepts of which are:
- Almost everyone occasionally procrastinates, but a worrisome 15 to 20 percent of adults routinely put off activities that would be better accomplished right away.
- A penchant for postponement carries a financial penalty, endangers health, harms relationships and ends careers. And yet perpetual foot-draggers sometimes benefit emotionally from their tactics, which support the human inclination to avoid the disagreeable.
- Research into the reasons people put off projects has led to strategies for helping all of us get and stay on task.
Read the article here.
China Losing Luster with U.S. Manufacturers November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in supply chain.Tags: offshoring, supply chain
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Two years of disastrous quality-control breakdowns, from foul fish and lead-tainted toys to poisoned drugs and dairy products, are taking their toll on China’s allure as a manufacturing platform. A new study found that quality concerns are among the chief reasons U.S. manufacturers are scaling back plans to source more goods from China.
Instead, U.S. companies are looking harder at Mexico and other locales closer to home when exploring where to put new capacity. The reasons for the shift suggest serious problems for China’s export machine that go far beyond the concerns over rising costs for wages, shipping, and materials that got a lot of attention earlier this year.
Read the full BusinessWeek article here.
China Losing Luster with U.S. Manufacturers November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in supply chain.Tags: offshoring, supply chain
add a comment
Two years of disastrous quality-control breakdowns, from foul fish and lead-tainted toys to poisoned drugs and dairy products, are taking their toll on China’s allure as a manufacturing platform. A new study found that quality concerns are among the chief reasons U.S. manufacturers are scaling back plans to source more goods from China.
Instead, U.S. companies are looking harder at Mexico and other locales closer to home when exploring where to put new capacity. The reasons for the shift suggest serious problems for China’s export machine that go far beyond the concerns over rising costs for wages, shipping, and materials that got a lot of attention earlier this year.
Read the full BusinessWeek article here.
Kraft Crafts an Open Innovation Strategy November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
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“We recognize that we don’t know everything,” explains Nanako Mura, associate program director, open innovation, at Kraft Foods.
Indeed, recognizing that expertise exists outside of Kraft’s core competencies — expertise that could help the company grow — has spurred Kraft to adopt the concept of “open innovation.” By Kraft’s definition, open innovation is about working with external innovation partners to speed the development of new products as well as speed the time it takes to bring new products to market. The partnerships allow access to additional talent and reduce R&D costs. And they complement Kraft’s internal innovation networks.
Kraft’s open innovation Web site is www.innovatewithkraft.com.
The IndustryWeek article describing Kraft’s open innovation efforts is here.
Kraft Crafts an Open Innovation Strategy November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
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“We recognize that we don’t know everything,” explains Nanako Mura, associate program director, open innovation, at Kraft Foods.
Indeed, recognizing that expertise exists outside of Kraft’s core competencies — expertise that could help the company grow — has spurred Kraft to adopt the concept of “open innovation.” By Kraft’s definition, open innovation is about working with external innovation partners to speed the development of new products as well as speed the time it takes to bring new products to market. The partnerships allow access to additional talent and reduce R&D costs. And they complement Kraft’s internal innovation networks.
Kraft’s open innovation Web site is www.innovatewithkraft.com.
The IndustryWeek article describing Kraft’s open innovation efforts is here.
Book: The Innovator’s Toolkit: 50+ Techniques for Predictable and Sustainable Organic Growth November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
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No, I don’t get a kickback for reviewing or recommending books like this. I recently ran across one reviewer’s comments and found them interesting:
What makes The Innovator’s Toolkit unique is that it is not yet another prescriptive book on innovation strategy (i.e., “Do these 10 things and your company will be unstoppable.”). Rather, it takes a very practical approach, providing readers with a collection of some of the best models and techniques for defining innovation opportunities, developing ideas for customer-focused breakthroughs, refining the design of your proposed new products and services, and evaluating products and processes prior to their formal launch. The book not only explains each technique, but also where and when it should be used.
The Innovator’s Toolkit is liberally illustrated with charts and tables that you can utilize to enhance your own innovation efforts. In fact, many of them are available in PDF form for download from the book’s website – very cool!
Even if you’re just starting out in your organizational innovation efforts, you’ll find this to be an accessible and extraordinarily helpful book.
More about the book on amazon.com here.
Book: The Innovator's Toolkit: 50+ Techniques for Predictable and Sustainable Organic Growth November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
add a comment
No, I don’t get a kickback for reviewing or recommending books like this. I recently ran across one reviewer’s comments and found them interesting:
What makes The Innovator’s Toolkit unique is that it is not yet another prescriptive book on innovation strategy (i.e., “Do these 10 things and your company will be unstoppable.”). Rather, it takes a very practical approach, providing readers with a collection of some of the best models and techniques for defining innovation opportunities, developing ideas for customer-focused breakthroughs, refining the design of your proposed new products and services, and evaluating products and processes prior to their formal launch. The book not only explains each technique, but also where and when it should be used.
The Innovator’s Toolkit is liberally illustrated with charts and tables that you can utilize to enhance your own innovation efforts. In fact, many of them are available in PDF form for download from the book’s website – very cool!
Even if you’re just starting out in your organizational innovation efforts, you’ll find this to be an accessible and extraordinarily helpful book.
More about the book on amazon.com here.
Book: The Innovator's Toolkit: 50+ Techniques for Predictable and Sustainable Organic Growth November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
add a comment
No, I don’t get a kickback for reviewing or recommending books like this. I recently ran across one reviewer’s comments and found them interesting:
What makes The Innovator’s Toolkit unique is that it is not yet another prescriptive book on innovation strategy (i.e., “Do these 10 things and your company will be unstoppable.”). Rather, it takes a very practical approach, providing readers with a collection of some of the best models and techniques for defining innovation opportunities, developing ideas for customer-focused breakthroughs, refining the design of your proposed new products and services, and evaluating products and processes prior to their formal launch. The book not only explains each technique, but also where and when it should be used.
The Innovator’s Toolkit is liberally illustrated with charts and tables that you can utilize to enhance your own innovation efforts. In fact, many of them are available in PDF form for download from the book’s website – very cool!
Even if you’re just starting out in your organizational innovation efforts, you’ll find this to be an accessible and extraordinarily helpful book.
More about the book on amazon.com here.
Book: The Innovator’s Toolkit: 50+ Techniques for Predictable and Sustainable Organic Growth November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
add a comment
No, I don’t get a kickback for reviewing or recommending books like this. I recently ran across one reviewer’s comments and found them interesting:
What makes The Innovator’s Toolkit unique is that it is not yet another prescriptive book on innovation strategy (i.e., “Do these 10 things and your company will be unstoppable.”). Rather, it takes a very practical approach, providing readers with a collection of some of the best models and techniques for defining innovation opportunities, developing ideas for customer-focused breakthroughs, refining the design of your proposed new products and services, and evaluating products and processes prior to their formal launch. The book not only explains each technique, but also where and when it should be used.
The Innovator’s Toolkit is liberally illustrated with charts and tables that you can utilize to enhance your own innovation efforts. In fact, many of them are available in PDF form for download from the book’s website – very cool!
Even if you’re just starting out in your organizational innovation efforts, you’ll find this to be an accessible and extraordinarily helpful book.
More about the book on amazon.com here.
Which Way Do You Spin? Your Left and Right Brains November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
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Which way is the dancer spinning… clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Most people will see her turning counter-clockwise, which apparently means you’re more left brained (logical). I see her spinning that way, and it’s at first almost impossible to imagine her going clockwise. But it happens, usually by focusing or when something unexpectedly alters your perception.
This post on the Lateral Action blog describes how to interpret your results. Allegedly.
Which Way Do You Spin? Your Left and Right Brains November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Creativity & Innovation.Tags: Creativity & Innovation
add a comment
Which way is the dancer spinning… clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Most people will see her turning counter-clockwise, which apparently means you’re more left brained (logical). I see her spinning that way, and it’s at first almost impossible to imagine her going clockwise. But it happens, usually by focusing or when something unexpectedly alters your perception.
This post on the Lateral Action blog describes how to interpret your results. Allegedly.
Patagonia’s Ongoing Recycling Program November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
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The idea seems so simple. Why can’t apparel be as recyclable as, say, plastic bottles or newspapers? After all, many garments hang around in closets long past the point when anyone wants to wear them, only to wind up in landfills.
Patagonia has spent years tackling this problem—and is making progress. As of this fall, the outdoor clothing company has taken back 12,000 kilograms of clothing to be recycled. Some 47% of Patagonia’s products are recyclable today. And the goal is to boost that to 100% by 2010, meaning everything from luggage to ski parkas will be both recyclable and made from recycled materials. But experts inside and outside the company say that to hit the new target, Patagonia has to overcome daunting technical challenges.
Read the article here.
Patagonia's Ongoing Recycling Program November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
add a comment
The idea seems so simple. Why can’t apparel be as recyclable as, say, plastic bottles or newspapers? After all, many garments hang around in closets long past the point when anyone wants to wear them, only to wind up in landfills.
Patagonia has spent years tackling this problem—and is making progress. As of this fall, the outdoor clothing company has taken back 12,000 kilograms of clothing to be recycled. Some 47% of Patagonia’s products are recyclable today. And the goal is to boost that to 100% by 2010, meaning everything from luggage to ski parkas will be both recyclable and made from recycled materials. But experts inside and outside the company say that to hit the new target, Patagonia has to overcome daunting technical challenges.
Read the article here.
Patagonia's Ongoing Recycling Program November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
add a comment
The idea seems so simple. Why can’t apparel be as recyclable as, say, plastic bottles or newspapers? After all, many garments hang around in closets long past the point when anyone wants to wear them, only to wind up in landfills.
Patagonia has spent years tackling this problem—and is making progress. As of this fall, the outdoor clothing company has taken back 12,000 kilograms of clothing to be recycled. Some 47% of Patagonia’s products are recyclable today. And the goal is to boost that to 100% by 2010, meaning everything from luggage to ski parkas will be both recyclable and made from recycled materials. But experts inside and outside the company say that to hit the new target, Patagonia has to overcome daunting technical challenges.
Read the article here.
Patagonia’s Ongoing Recycling Program November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
add a comment
The idea seems so simple. Why can’t apparel be as recyclable as, say, plastic bottles or newspapers? After all, many garments hang around in closets long past the point when anyone wants to wear them, only to wind up in landfills.
Patagonia has spent years tackling this problem—and is making progress. As of this fall, the outdoor clothing company has taken back 12,000 kilograms of clothing to be recycled. Some 47% of Patagonia’s products are recyclable today. And the goal is to boost that to 100% by 2010, meaning everything from luggage to ski parkas will be both recyclable and made from recycled materials. But experts inside and outside the company say that to hit the new target, Patagonia has to overcome daunting technical challenges.
Read the article here.
Water Bottle Made From Paper November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
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It’s good that more people are drinking bottled water these days, but what isn’t good is that there are many plastic bottles that often do not get recycled. Even the plastic bottles that get recycled are not 100% renewable. Now the company BrandImage has created a water bottle made completely from paper. It also appears resealable. The article does not say how far they are away from commercial production. There is an aesthetic that we have gotten accustomed to – seeing the product – that is not addressed here. We also don’t know if the paper would impart any taste to the water. Still, this is a potentially significant green move forward. Plus, it has already received an IDEA (International Design Excellence Award) for the concept. Read more here.
Water Bottle Made From Paper November 30, 2008
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business.Tags: green business
add a comment
It’s good that more people are drinking bottled water these days, but what isn’t good is that there are many plastic bottles that often do not get recycled. Even the plastic bottles that get recycled are not 100% renewable. Now the company BrandImage has created a water bottle made completely from paper. It also appears resealable. The article does not say how far they are away from commercial production. There is an aesthetic that we have gotten accustomed to – seeing the product – that is not addressed here. We also don’t know if the paper would impart any taste to the water. Still, this is a potentially significant green move forward. Plus, it has already received an IDEA (International Design Excellence Award) for the concept. Read more here.
