An Example of SME and Pull?

By Mark Graban On Jul 16, 2006

Society of Manufacturing Engineers -Join

I joined SME and received my new member package with the typical membership card etc. (typical of other organizations I belong to or have belonged to — AME, APICS, ASQ).

One thing jumped out at me. They offer a membership certificate and a member lapel pin… but you have to request them. They don't ship these items out automatically, you have to request them (or one) — online or via a post card.

Is this a purposeful example of “pull”? I could care less, honestly, about a membership certificate and I'm not even sure if I would need the lapel pin. So, it seems like SME is avoiding the waste “overproduction?”

Some smart aleck might say “they're just being cheap” but that's exactly the point right? If some members VALUE that pin, they can get it. Seems lean to me.

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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. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published 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.

An Example of SME and Pull?

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