All posts from Mark Graban’s LeanBlog.org, including podcasts, announcements, articles, and more.
StuderGroup – The Magic of Rounding Here’s a good article from Quint Studer about “rounding” — something Lean folks might refer to as a “Gemba Walk.” Studer’s writing on leadership and management, although hardly referencing “Lean” or “Toyota,” is pretty…
As Candidates Quit, Trinkets Pile Up (Free CareerJournal.com article) Here’s an amusing article from the WSJ… sort of old news now, but also a story about old inventory, so maybe my delay in posting this is appropriate. “…small businesses responsible…
Again, the main site for my book is www.leanhospitalsbook.com. I have some exciting new endorsements, including from John Touissant. I’m thrilled he would be so generous after reading a preview copy: “Mark Graban’s book has documented what is now happening…
The Open Secret of Success: Financial Page: The New Yorker I’m not normally a reader of The New Yorker, but I thank Norman Bodek for pointing this out as we recorded a new podcast episode (to be released in a…
As some of you know, I’ve been answering questions on lean in partnership with Bosch Rexroth both on their newsletter and through the recently launched podcasts. Here was one question that was simply put: How is lean green? This is…
“process arsonist” – Google Search I was talking with someone a few weeks back about the analogy of “fire fighting” in a workplace (something that applies in factories and hospitals… any workplace, basically). Typically problem solving involves just fixing the…
TL;DR: Standard work defines the current best method for a task. Standardized work signals that method is deliberately created, followed, and improved through kaizen — not fixed by rule. The distinction matters because it supports professional judgment over rigid compliance.…
The Challenge From China – WSJ.com: The above linked article is pretty wide-ranging, written by a political guy, mostly about the growing military threat from China. He dabbles a bit in long-term (China) vs. short-term (U.S.) thinking… how China’s economic…
Peter Pronovost – The 2008 TIME 100 – TIME It’s so nice to see someone like Dr. Peter Pronovost on the “most influential” list, even though he’s out of place among the Miley Cyruses of the world (also on the…
Fixing East-West clash challenging Prof. Jeffrey Liker keynoted a Lean event in Oklahoma and is quoted as saying: Maybe the cowboy and the samurai best illustrate the chasm between Eastern and Western corporate cultures, author Jeffrey Liker offered Thursday during…
by Dan Markovitz The New York subway system has invested nearly $1 billion investment since the early 1990s — and $25 million per year in maintenance cost — in equipping stations with elevators and escalators. The results have been less-than…
Changeover.com You might be surprised to see that phrase. Say “no” to quick changeover?? That’s a core method in the Toyota Production System, right? Well, a method called “SMED” or “Single Minute Exchange of Dies” is. Why the distinction in…
