In Defense of Kaizen Events September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, Lean Tools & Techniques.Tags: kaizen, Lean Thinking
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Mike Wroblewski has heard a lot recently about Kaizen events –and a growing number of comments have been negative. For example, he has heard that the results of the events are not sustainable, and that the events are a quick and easy way for consultants to make a buck. While he acknowledges that the circumstances may make these comments true, he goes on to state that Lean isn’t just about Kaizen events. Companies must move beyond Kaizen the way growing babies move beyond milk.
Check out Mr. Wroblewski’s creative analysis here.
In Defense of Kaizen Events September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, Lean Tools & Techniques.Tags: kaizen, Lean Thinking
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Mike Wroblewski has heard a lot recently about Kaizen events –and a growing number of comments have been negative. For example, he has heard that the results of the events are not sustainable, and that the events are a quick and easy way for consultants to make a buck. While he acknowledges that the circumstances may make these comments true, he goes on to state that Lean isn’t just about Kaizen events. Companies must move beyond Kaizen the way growing babies move beyond milk.
Check out Mr. Wroblewski’s creative analysis here.
Leader Standard Work – Chock that PDCA Wheel September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in leadership, Lean Tools & Techniques, Standard Work.Tags: leadership, Lean Tools & Techniques, standard work
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Mark Hamel over at Gemba Tales admits to being a pain for the new exercise he’s added to his Kaizen Event Standard Work. He now requires team leaders to walk him through the leader standard work. This is done to keep things honest, and to avoid backsliding because of insufficient work.
Check out Mr. Hamel’s post here.
Leader Standard Work – Chock that PDCA Wheel September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in leadership, Lean Tools & Techniques, Standard Work.Tags: leadership, Lean Tools & Techniques, standard work
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Mark Hamel over at Gemba Tales admits to being a pain for the new exercise he’s added to his Kaizen Event Standard Work. He now requires team leaders to walk him through the leader standard work. This is done to keep things honest, and to avoid backsliding because of insufficient work.
Check out Mr. Hamel’s post here.
Lean Confusion September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in lean.Tags: lean
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Component shortages faced by Apple, and the production problems Toyota encountered, are blamed on lean methods; yet, at the other end of the spectrum, IndustryWeek’s Best Plants competition notes that 90% of finalists and winners have reaped great rewards through using lean. While some extol lean, others condemn it. Why the discrepancy and the confusion? Jill Jusko’s IndustryWeek article seeks to find out why. One of the reasons is because everyone has their own idea of what lean is because the definition is relatively subjective. Another is unreliable data about who is doing lean -and by what terms those companies and organizations define lean.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Confusion September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in lean.Tags: lean
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Component shortages faced by Apple, and the production problems Toyota encountered, are blamed on lean methods; yet, at the other end of the spectrum, IndustryWeek’s Best Plants competition notes that 90% of finalists and winners have reaped great rewards through using lean. While some extol lean, others condemn it. Why the discrepancy and the confusion? Jill Jusko’s IndustryWeek article seeks to find out why. One of the reasons is because everyone has their own idea of what lean is because the definition is relatively subjective. Another is unreliable data about who is doing lean -and by what terms those companies and organizations define lean.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
How to Design a Lean Operation at a One Day Takt September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Tools & Techniques, strategy.Tags: Lean Tools & Techniques, strategy
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Jon Miller over at Gemba Panta Rei takes on the challenge of constructing a one day takt lean operation in an August 23 post. For example, if it is a simple eight-hour process to complete a unit, Mr. Miller notes that it is a simple “start the day, finish the day” flow. But if the unit requires more than eight hours, flowlines and workstations need to be visibly divided into section takts until the unit is completed.
Check out Mr. Miller’s article here.
How to Design a Lean Operation at a One Day Takt September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Tools & Techniques, strategy.Tags: Lean Tools & Techniques, strategy
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Jon Miller over at Gemba Panta Rei takes on the challenge of constructing a one day takt lean operation in an August 23 post. For example, if it is a simple eight-hour process to complete a unit, Mr. Miller notes that it is a simple “start the day, finish the day” flow. But if the unit requires more than eight hours, flowlines and workstations need to be visibly divided into section takts until the unit is completed.
Check out Mr. Miller’s article here.
Americans Don’t Have a Clue About How to Save Energy September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in culture, green business.Tags: culture, energy, green
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Ariel Schwartz over at FastCompany has analyzed a study of the energy conservation habits of Americans. The study discovered that most Americans aren’t up to par on their energy saving ideas. For example, 20% of all respondents believed that turning off lights was the best way to save energy. 3.2% believed better appliances meant saving more energy, as well as 2.8% who believed efficient cars meant saving energy. The reason why is because energy conservation isn’t high up on the lists of concerns of most people. Better information delivery would help make people more knowledgeable.
Check out the FastCompany analysis here.
Americans Don’t Have a Clue About How to Save Energy September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in culture, green business.Tags: culture, energy, green
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Ariel Schwartz over at FastCompany has analyzed a study of the energy conservation habits of Americans. The study discovered that most Americans aren’t up to par on their energy saving ideas. For example, 20% of all respondents believed that turning off lights was the best way to save energy. 3.2% believed better appliances meant saving more energy, as well as 2.8% who believed efficient cars meant saving energy. The reason why is because energy conservation isn’t high up on the lists of concerns of most people. Better information delivery would help make people more knowledgeable.
Check out the FastCompany analysis here.
Mental Models: Standardized Work and Performance Measures September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, Lean Tools & Techniques, Standard Work.Tags: Lean Thinking, standard work
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Mark Graban at Lean Blog writes how one of the problems traditional organizations and leaders have difficulty with lean is because the “mental modes” are not the same. In other words, something that will work wonderfully in a Lean culture might not work so well in a traditional setting. For example, traditional organizations base themselves on control; lean organizations place faith in the individual motivation and creativity of employees. Traditional organizations will, unfortunately, simply look at standardized work as another way to control workers.
Check out Mr. Graban’s excellent post here.
Mental Models: Standardized Work and Performance Measures September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Lean Thinking, Lean Tools & Techniques, Standard Work.Tags: Lean Thinking, standard work
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Mark Graban at Lean Blog writes how one of the problems traditional organizations and leaders have difficulty with lean is because the “mental modes” are not the same. In other words, something that will work wonderfully in a Lean culture might not work so well in a traditional setting. For example, traditional organizations base themselves on control; lean organizations place faith in the individual motivation and creativity of employees. Traditional organizations will, unfortunately, simply look at standardized work as another way to control workers.
Check out Mr. Graban’s excellent post here.
5 Ways the Obeya (Big Room) Increases Profit September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Workplace Design.Tags: workforce, workplace design
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Walls surround us, notes Jon Miller over at Gemba Panta Rei. Yet, how many of us ever consider moving them or taking them down? There are beneficial reasons to do so, writes Mr. Miller. Those include increased sociability, meaning less meetings; resource bottlenecks are in plain sight; and worthless space is reduced.
Read about Mr. Miller’s other reasons to take down walls here.
5 Ways the Obeya (Big Room) Increases Profit September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in Workplace Design.Tags: workforce, workplace design
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Walls surround us, notes Jon Miller over at Gemba Panta Rei. Yet, how many of us ever consider moving them or taking them down? There are beneficial reasons to do so, writes Mr. Miller. Those include increased sociability, meaning less meetings; resource bottlenecks are in plain sight; and worthless space is reduced.
Read about Mr. Miller’s other reasons to take down walls here.
Variability and Vulnerability in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in supply chain.Tags: mistake-proofing, supply chain
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Supply trains have more than their fair share of problems, and those problems are especially inherent pharmaceutical supply chains. A lack of uniformity, for example, in the production of raw materials in different places with different regulatory standards, can have dire consequences (such as the 2008 Heparin incident which claimed 81lives.) The e-Pedigree (a traceable history of production), RFID (a track and trace method), and spectroscopy (a chemical fingerprint of the product) are proven methods of being able to safeguard the supply chain process, though each has its drawbacks.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Variability and Vulnerability in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in supply chain.Tags: mistake-proofing, supply chain
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Supply trains have more than their fair share of problems, and those problems are especially inherent pharmaceutical supply chains. A lack of uniformity, for example, in the production of raw materials in different places with different regulatory standards, can have dire consequences (such as the 2008 Heparin incident which claimed 81lives.) The e-Pedigree (a traceable history of production), RFID (a track and trace method), and spectroscopy (a chemical fingerprint of the product) are proven methods of being able to safeguard the supply chain process, though each has its drawbacks.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Top 10 Signs You’re in a Fear-Based Workplace September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in culture, workforce.Tags: culture, workforce
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Work drive by fear is harmful and counterproductive. It crushes individual motivation and leads employees to be adverse to risk taking. Mark Graban over at Lean Blog writes about fear-based workplaces, drawing on an article from MSNBC and BusinessWeek. Some of the signs you’re working in a fear-based workplace? Appearances are everything. Numbers rule. Everyone talks about who is rising and falling.
Check out Mr. Graban’s analysis here and the original MSNBC/BusinessWeek article here.
Top 10 Signs You’re in a Fear-Based Workplace September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in culture, workforce.Tags: culture, workforce
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Work drive by fear is harmful and counterproductive. It crushes individual motivation and leads employees to be adverse to risk taking. Mark Graban over at Lean Blog writes about fear-based workplaces, drawing on an article from MSNBC and BusinessWeek. Some of the signs you’re working in a fear-based workplace? Appearances are everything. Numbers rule. Everyone talks about who is rising and falling.
Check out Mr. Graban’s analysis here and the original MSNBC/BusinessWeek article here.
Worry Isn’t Work September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in personal productivity, work-life balance, workforce.Tags: personal productivity, work-life balance, workforce
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Dan Pollotta, writing at Bloomberg Businessweek, explores the old idea that, anything fun cannot possibly be work; and anything unpleasant is. Mr. Pallotta explains that one has to separate oneself from work. Exercise, meditate, see a movie, go to church. In other words, one must relax if one is to be able to focus more clearly at work. Who, Mr. Pallotta wonders, will be the more productive contributor to a company -the “person who is healthy, rested, well-balanced, full of energy, and clear of mind, or the sleep-deprived, overweight, heart-attack-waiting-to-happen, psychologically unexamined, self-critical maniac?”
Head on over to read Mr. Pallotta’s article here.
Worry Isn’t Work September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in personal productivity, work-life balance, workforce.Tags: personal productivity, work-life balance, workforce
add a comment
Dan Pollotta, writing at Bloomberg Businessweek, explores the old idea that, anything fun cannot possibly be work; and anything unpleasant is. Mr. Pallotta explains that one has to separate oneself from work. Exercise, meditate, see a movie, go to church. In other words, one must relax if one is to be able to focus more clearly at work. Who, Mr. Pallotta wonders, will be the more productive contributor to a company -the “person who is healthy, rested, well-balanced, full of energy, and clear of mind, or the sleep-deprived, overweight, heart-attack-waiting-to-happen, psychologically unexamined, self-critical maniac?”
Head on over to read Mr. Pallotta’s article here.
The Real Effects of Workplace Anxiety September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in work-life balance, workforce.Tags: work-life balance, workforce
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Susan Berfield has written an article over at Bloomberg Businessweek which includes part of her interview with Karen Sumberg of the Center for Work-Life Policy. The Center conducted a three-month long 2008 study called “Sustaining High Performance in Difficult Times.” The study looked at 200 employees identified by their bosses as having “high potential.” Because of the recession and worry over layoffs, for example, trust and loyalty in the company and in management had declined dramatically. The article also looks at effective countermeasures, such as allowing people to volunteer during work hours.
Check out the Bloomberg Businessweek article here.
The Real Effects of Workplace Anxiety September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in work-life balance, workforce.Tags: work-life balance, workforce
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Susan Berfield has written an article over at Bloomberg Businessweek which includes part of her interview with Karen Sumberg of the Center for Work-Life Policy. The Center conducted a three-month long 2008 study called “Sustaining High Performance in Difficult Times.” The study looked at 200 employees identified by their bosses as having “high potential.” Because of the recession and worry over layoffs, for example, trust and loyalty in the company and in management had declined dramatically. The article also looks at effective countermeasures, such as allowing people to volunteer during work hours.
Check out the Bloomberg Businessweek article here.
Steelcase Goes DIY With Ecovative Home-Grown Packaging (It’s Edible, Too) September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business, new products and technologies.Tags: green, green business, new products and technologies
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Michigan-based office furniture company Steelcase is not only using environmental packaging, but it is growing it as well. The material, produced in a partnership with startup Ecovative, is made up of agricultural byproducts like corn husks and cotton burrs. It is even edible, taste aside. It requires zero energy to grow until the drying process, and the company hopes to regionalize the packaging materials soon.
Check out the FastCompany analysis of the packaging product here.
Steelcase Goes DIY With Ecovative Home-Grown Packaging (It’s Edible, Too) September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business, new products and technologies.Tags: green, green business, new products and technologies
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Michigan-based office furniture company Steelcase is not only using environmental packaging, but it is growing it as well. The material, produced in a partnership with startup Ecovative, is made up of agricultural byproducts like corn husks and cotton burrs. It is even edible, taste aside. It requires zero energy to grow until the drying process, and the company hopes to regionalize the packaging materials soon.
Check out the FastCompany analysis of the packaging product here.
Steelcase Goes DIY With Ecovative Home-Grown Packaging (It's Edible, Too) September 24, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in green business, new products and technologies.Tags: green, green business, new products and technologies
add a comment
Michigan-based office furniture company Steelcase is not only using environmental packaging, but it is growing it as well. The material, produced in a partnership with startup Ecovative, is made up of agricultural byproducts like corn husks and cotton burrs. It is even edible, taste aside. It requires zero energy to grow until the drying process, and the company hopes to regionalize the packaging materials soon.
Check out the FastCompany analysis of the packaging product here.
