Another column from the Superfactory.com blog. Horizontal surfaces can indeed be dangerous. In many cases, I've encouraged teams to eliminate them in creative ways. Horizontal surfaces (such as racks, carts, and tables) often invite excess WIP “because the space is there.”
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Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. His most recent book is the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus. His latest book has been released as an "in-progress" book, titled Measures of Success.