There are things about Lean you cannot learn from a book, a conference, or a consultant. I say that as someone who writes the books and gives the talks. You learn them by standing in a place where the work…
This article is based on my recent Catalysis webinar, “Lean Lessons from Japan: Mindsets, Culture, and the Challenge of Speaking Up.” The session was part of their ongoing learning series, and the recording will be available soon through Catalysis and…
This October, I’ll be returning to Japan for another Lean healthcare study trip–my seventh time overall and my fifth healthcare-focused visit. With each visit, I find new layers of learning. While my earlier trips were filled with curiosity about Lean…
tl;dr: Kaiteki is a Japanese management philosophy focused on comfort, purpose, and respect for people–and it helps explain why motivated employees and Lean success go hand in hand. During my most recent visit to Japan (as part of a tour…
TL;DR: While some Japanese hospitals excel at Lean, many face the same cultural and systemic barriers seen elsewhere. Visiting Japan isn’t about finding a Lean utopia–it’s about sharpening your thinking by seeing what’s possible and how leadership, not geography, drives…
One of the most important, and most misunderstood, principles in Lean thinking is this: Lean is not a cost-cutting strategy. Lean is a people-development strategy. If your organization is using Lean as a tool to justify layoffs, you’re not practicing…
Why Lean Thinking Succeeds in Japan–Not Because of Culture, But Because of Intentional Leadership and Systems One of the most persistent myths I’ve encountered over the years goes something like this: “Well, of course they can do Lean… they’re Japanese.”…
Learning Lean from Japan isn’t about copying tools or culture–it’s about seeing what’s possible when organizations commit to respect for people, continuous improvement, and long-term thinking. In this episode, Dave Fitzpatrick and I discuss the Lean Healthcare Accelerator Experience: an…
A former Toyota leader shares firsthand insights on the mindset shifts, leadership behaviors, and management systems that transformed NUMMI from a failed GM plant into a global Toyota culture case study. The NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.) experiment remains…
tl;dr: A visit to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo offers a vivid Lean lesson: extraordinary quality and efficiency, but at a pace that raises questions about flow, pull, and the customer experience. Before Katie Anderson’s Japan Study Trip in November, I…
Lean succeeds when people focus on scientific thinking and action, not perfect templates. A3s, hoshin kanri, and other tools only work when they support real learning, experimentation, and reflection–mindset and behavior matter far more than format. During my recent Japan…
Blame-based cultures kill improvement. Leaders must resolve to build trust and safety if they want innovation and engagement. During Katie Anderson‘s Japan Study Trip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply: “The biggest challenge…
