Links to Dilbert Cartoons on #Lean and/or #SixSigma

I've often blogged about Dilbert and “dilbert lean” is a fairly common search term, so I thought I'd do my best to compile all of the Lean or Six Sigma related strips that I could find into a single post, providing links to them.

Previously, I had embedded strips (since the Dilbert website gave you code that allowed me to do that). A few years back, I got a really nicely-worded email from somebody at the company that distributes Dilbert. They asked me to not embed the strips and to, instead, link to the cartoons. I complied with their request and, to my surprise, they mailed me a really nice Dilbert coffee-table book.

You can reach this page at www.leanblog.org/dilbert. Click on any cartoon description to see it on Dilbert.com, where you can also buy merchandise with your favorite strip.

10/16/11: Dilbert's boss does all he can to discourage ideas

1/19/07: Pointy-haired boss wants to combine Lean and Six Sigma

6/17/11: Wally misunderstands what a “kaizen” should be all about (also see this blog post).

9/30/11: Dilbert's boss doesn't want ideas

1/31/07: Lean has a “bias for action,” while Six Sigma sometimes suffers from a “bias for more analysis.”

1/26/06: I don't mean to be highlighting strips that mock Six Sigma. Many of these Six Sigma jokes could be applied just the same to Lean (or “L.A.M.E.“).

3/21/05: Maybe he meant “lean up” in a very colloquial sense, not really talking about Lean Management

10/6/01: The Lean philosophy embraces the concept of “no problems is a problem.” We have to uncover and understand the root cause of our problems… but first, we have to admit we have them (see strip)

10/3/01: Again, the same joke could be made with Lean

10/4/01: Again, not just picking on Six Sigma.

10/5/01: Wow, Dogbert doesn't practice the Lean concept of “respect for people,” does he?

9/9/05: Dilbert's company really misapplies Lean 5S principles.

12/5/94: Too many organizations, sadly, just try to copy Toyota instead of really understanding what's behind Lean and the Toyota Production System.

3/13/91: Wow, this is an old strip.

3/14/03: Poor Dilbert – Just in Time Inventory strategy

2/13/11: This illustrates how Dilbert's boss is not a Lean Thinker (blog post)

1/18/09: More waste illustrated at Dilbert's company (blog post).

12/4/2008: Dilbert's company is not big on employee ideas or “Kaizen,” apparently

11/11/2010: Dilbert's boss blames people, not the system

2/24/2004: Again, punishing people who take risks

4/18/1999 — Patty the Process Person who “doesn't know how to do anything” :-)

4/27/2004 — All the suggestions say “more money“

10/14/1992 — Dilbert's boss sets a trap

Which strip is your favorite? Which hurts the most? Were there any Lean-related strips that I missed?

You can also see more recent Dilbert strips related to Lean that I've collected under the tag “Dilbert.”

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• About
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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.

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