Lean Thinking Poster at a Chinese Airplane Factory
Above is an article that talks about Boeing and Airbus moving airplane production into China.
This item struck me as very Toyota like in the attitude:
“Ubiquitous white poster boards with company slogans hang in the hallways, cafeteria and on the factory floor. ‘Don't try to explain why it won't work. Think of a way to make it work,' one slogan proclaims.”
But, the Deming-head in me says “slogans are bad”. That's why I've never been a big fan of relying on posters on the wall. Management needs to act as Leaders and emphasize that philosophy through their words and actions.
Scroll down to “Comments” to read the Deming point and share your experiences with that mindset of “think of a way to make it work” or the use of lean slogans in the factory.
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The Deming Point says: Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force asking for zero defects and new levels of productivity. Such exhortations only create adversary relationships, as the bulk of the causes of low quality and low productivity belong to the system and thus lie beyond the power of the work force.