Blog reader Darrin wrote and asked: Do you have any up-to-date sources for “word-class” numbers for lean metrics like % of Leadtime that is wasted, % yields, etc.? I know I’ve seen numbers for benchmark “% value added time”, etc.…
ASSEMBLY Magazine Jamie Flinchbaugh has a new “Leading Lean” column in assembly magazine. Here’s a great story, an example of “because we’ve always done it” waste. “One of the most remarkable examples was a manufacturing company that was finally getting…
The New York Times ran an article this weekend exposing the myth of multitasking. Despite the common belief that we have to multi-task to get our work done, and despite the presence of technology that encourages us to do more…
Mlive.com Article Here’s an article with Toyota (and former Chrysler) exec Jamie Bonini talking about continuous improvement: “Our 2010 vision is to be the most admired automaker through continuous improvement and respect for people,” Bonini said. A New Jersey native,…
Seeking Perfect Prices, CEO Tears Up the Rules – WSJ.com I haven’t mentioned it in a while, was trying to give it a rest for a bit, but the front page of the WSJ highlighted this basic economic concept: prices…
Goldman upgrades Dell on turnaround hopes Here’s another contrast between Toyota and Dell, particularly striking in context of my recent podcast with Norman Bodek: Dell shares rallied nearly 3 percent Monday after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to “buy” from…
Listen: LeanBlog Podcast Episode #21 features our friend and frequent guest, Norman Bodek, noted lean author, consultant, and President of PCS Press. In this Podcast, we talk about how Lean should be good for a company’s employees, that Lean and…
Ackoff Center Weblog: Why few organizations adopt systems thinking Click on the link above for a blog post by the legendary Systems Thinker Russell Ackoff. He writes about reasons why more organizations don’t adopt “systems thinking” if it works so…
Starbucks Gossip: I know Starbucks would never allow a sign like this to be posted… One blog I follow sometimes is one run primarily for the purposes of allowing Starbucks “baristas,” to bitch about customers. They are coming dangerously close…
NPR : American Airlines ‘Insources’ Maintenance Work Thanks to my friend Amber for passing this along. It’s too bad that management can’t empower the customer-facing staff at American the same way, which would undoubtedly improve their morale, as well. In…
lean as a learning system hospital ward – Google Search I hope those of you reading won’t consider this to be a “healthcare only” paper. It’s written by Michael Balle, who you might recognize as the co-author of The Gold…
I’ve been doing a lot of re-reading (and some fresh reading) of the concepts of W. Edwards Deming recently. I’ve decided April will be “Deming Month” on the Lean Blog. It’s not that we’ll exclusively write about Deming, but I’ll…
