The Lean Blog is turning into a family affair… my dad, Bob, comments once in a while and now my mom, an elementary school teacher, is feeding me blog material. From an education newsletter she received (I can’t find a…
Listen: LeanBlog Podcast #34 is a discussion with Chris Harris, from Harris Lean Systems, and co-author of the book Developing a Lean Workforce: A Guide for Human Resources, Plant Managers and Lean Coordinators. If you enjoy this podcast, I hope…
As if explaining Lean to people at hospitals doesn’t stretch my brain enough, I sometimes find it’s a fun (or at least helpful) challenge to explain what it is I do to folks who’ve had no exposure to it (like…
Here are some of my recent posts at the Institute of Industrial Engineers blog, under my heading of “Everyday Lean.” Ballot shortages in New Hampshire Starting the new year with 5S Happy “heijunka holidays” Navigational nightmares at the airport Other…
“Help Wanted” highlights skills drain in U.S – Yahoo! News Here’s an interesting story about the shortage of machinists: While millions of jobs making everything from textiles to steel have moved to new powerhouses like China in recent years, precision…
Reflections on Lean Thanks to the folks at the LEI for giving me a copy of their new monograph. This slick little book is more like a collection of blog posts or little stories from Lean practitioners. It’s a combination…
Care and Chaos on the Night Nursing Shift – WSJ.com Free Version via CareerJournal.com The linked article is a virtual “gemba walk” for those of you who have asked how and why Lean is helpful and necessary in a hospital…
Technology Review: “You Don’t Understand Our Audience” It’s just one part of a very interesting article in the MIT magazine by John Hockenberry, a former reporter for NBC news. NBC (and NBC Universal) are a part of the General Electric…
If you’re a results thinker, you should feel reassured that 2007 had zero U.S. air travel fatalities for the first time in a long time, the continuation of an apparent downward trend. 2007 a safe year for U.S. airlines If…
‘Bundling’ hospital processes may help prevent infections – USATODAY.com “Bundling hospital processes” = Standardized Work Why isn’t every hospital doing this? Why isn’t every hospital administrator making sure this is happening? The IHI [Institute for Healthcare Improvement] defines bundling as…
Jay Parkinson, MD. A doctor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Manhattan HIStalk Interviews Jay Parkinson MD MPH, House Call Doctor Posts will be pretty sparse and short the next few days, as I’ll be in New York City through Sunday, busy…
Toyota juggernaut vows to improve (Detroit News): Toyota’s president is urging his own company to remember the principle of “Genchi Genbutsu,” or “go and see.” David Mann, author of Creating a Lean Culture: Tools to Sustain Lean Conversions, puts it…
