Proof That Nelson from The Simpsons is Not a Good Kaizen Coach

If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of The Simpsons. The show has been on TV for 25 of my 40 years.

The cable channel FXX is having an “Every Simpsons Ever” marathon, showing all 552 episodes over 12 days.

I'm watching it here and there, especially my favorite episodes from the early to mid 90s.

I'm guessing that nobody thinks Nelson, the bully, would be a good Kaizen coach, working with employees on constructive continuous improvement activities, but this clip made me chuckle:

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What mistakes does he make?

First, he tells Lisa she's “doing that the stupid way” (that being drawing lines on the chalkboard for musical notation).

Secondly, he gives her an answer, telling her to use “the deal with the five chalks” (like this).

He does tell her “why” at least (she'll be able to do it faster). Nelson ignores the quality aspect of drawing five equidistant, equally straight lines all at once.

Lisa pushes back (there's some plot and subtext here of her having a crush on Nelson).

Nelson blows her off comment with a “whatever” and walks away.

The next time you go to the Gemba, don't be a Nelson.

A decent coach would have started by asking Lisa what she was trying to accomplish. Would have watched before offering a solution. Would have stuck around to see if the suggestion actually worked. And definitely wouldn't have dismissed her pushback with a “whatever” before walking away.

Mr. Burns and “Assembly Line Medicine”

There's another episode where Mr. Burns gets what could literally be described as “assembly line medicine.”

It's a funny exaggeration, but the underlying idea isn't far from what happens when healthcare systems prioritize throughput over the patient experience.

Homer's Gemba Walk (Season 14, Episode 15)

A reader tipped me off to another episode worth watching — Season 14, Episode 15, “C.E. D'oh” — where Homer basically does a gemba walk at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. It's one of the best Simpsons-meets-Lean moments in the series.

It starts at home. Homer reads a life improvement book and gets inspired to do some kaizen around the house. He installs a key hook on the wall for Marge — although her previous method of putting the keys in a bowl right underneath seemed to work just fine. Not every “improvement” is an improvement.

He also puts up a poster of the “Swedish Efficiency Team” (covering up a bikini team poster).

The book tells Homer to “point out problems to your boss.” So he goes on a gemba walk of sorts to look for problems and ideas — although his book suggests he “tattle on the cattle,” which isn't exactly a Lean coaching approach.

He does find a number of safety problems, including a “safety shower” that shoots fire.

Then comes the classic moment: Homer discovers that the coffee room, cream room, and stirrers room are three separate rooms that people have to walk between. Extra motion, extra transportation, played for laughs — but I've seen real-world versions of this in hospitals where supplies that get used together are stored in three different locations on the same floor. You don't need a spaghetti diagram to see the problem, but it helps.

Recognition Matters

Later in the episode, Homer says: “Mr. Burns has never given me a thumbs up or a ‘way to be' or a ‘you go girl.' He steps all over everyone who works for him and takes pleasure in making us feel small.”

He wants some recognition for his ideas. Sound familiar? People stop contributing when their ideas disappear into a void — or worse, when they're punished for speaking up.

What other Simpsons moments remind you of Lean, kaizen, or life at the gemba?