From the Air Force news service and Google Video, a story about what basically sounds like a week-long “kaizen event” with the goal of reducing waste and increasing airplane availability.
Here is a look back at the “Lean Across the Air Force” memo.
One thing I like about these Air Force videos is how they let airmen describe what they are doing and what lean is. Whether it's their own words or scripted, I don't know, but sounds like a good attempt at using lean principles.
There is another video, on engine repair and lean, if you search for “air force lean” on Google Video.
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Mark's new book is The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation.
He is also the author of Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, and the anthology Practicing Lean.
Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.
I agree about having the airmen speak about what they are doing. Letting the workforce make the reports to management instead of having the Project Manager or Consultant do it is a strong move for the Project. It increases the buy-in of the employees and it goes further toward convincing management that the people are doing the work.