tl;dr: Shingo renamed “foolproofing” to poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) after the old term made a worker cry. The lesson holds: blame doesn’t prevent defects, and respecting people is what makes zero defects possible. I’m currently working on a Mistake Proofing class for Karen Martin and TKMG Academy. Coming soon!! UPDATE — AVAILABLE NOW. While writing the course and its script, I’ve gone back to some older source material that’s been on my bookshelf for a long time. … Continue reading Poka-Yoke and Shigeo Shingo: Why “Foolproofing” Became Mistake-Proofing