PR is Job One?
Auto writer: Assembling Ford Focus isn’t so easy I saw this in the paper while in Detroit this week and cringed. Ford is actually letting a reporter help build an actual car for an actual customer?? Without actual training? I…
Category Blog
All Blog Posts
All posts from Mark Graban’s LeanBlog.org, including podcasts, announcements, articles, and more.
Poka Yoke for your PC
Personal Technology – WSJ.com The Wall Street Journal has an article today about two automated online backup systems, Mozy and Carbonite. Each costs about $50 a year to automatically, in the background, backup your files to a remote online server.…
Who is Responsible for Quality?
I saw this card (click on it for a larger view) included with some medical products that were shipped to a hospital. It’s signed by a production worker (I assume) and says “I am responsible for the quality control of…
Lean *is* Safety
Safety Issues on the Table: Saw this quote in an article about safety: “A range of issues and concerns fall under the rubric of ‘globalization,’ from the challenges of maintaining safe and healthy workplaces amidst the pressures of lean manufacturing…
NBA Listens to Employees, Goes Back to the Old Ball
NBA to ditch new ball, return to old Following up this earlier story about the lack of employee involvement, the NBA has decided to go back to their old basketball. From this article (no longer available): Without consulting the players, the…
Great Comment on the Blog
Hi folks — one feature of this blog (and most blogs) is the ability for visitors to leave comments, either anonymously or under their names. I got a great comment today from Charles H. Green on my post about the…
Should Nurses Be Jailed for Medical Mistakes? Blame, Systems, and Patient Safety
In the news: Charges against nurse igniting a debate This case — involving Wisconsin nurse Julie Thao — is still referenced in debates about whether medical professionals should face criminal charges for unintentional errors. A Fatal Medication Error — and…
How Bad Labor Relations can Kill Opportunities
American Proposes Chicago-Beijing Route – Los Angeles Times A lot of lean is based on the idea of “respect for people.” That was often lacking when I worked at GM in the 90’s. It certainly seems to be lacking in…
New WSJ Article on Toyota
As Rivals Catch Up, Toyota CEO Spurs Big Efficiency Drive – WSJ.com Not sure if there will be a free version online (if so, I’ll try find it or someone post a link). Welcome, WSJ readers who found me via…
I Bought a Lean Comic Book
I’m still waiting for the lean comic book to arrive after buying it on eBay. The link above is a column written about Hytrol Conveyor Company (more on their lean effort). They created a custom comic book to help explain…
The Perils of Ignoring 5S in Offices
By : Daniel Markovitz, Markovitz Consulting Note: This posting is from a guest Blogger, Dan Markovitz, founder and president of Markovitz Consulting a consulting firm in California. Dan has been quoted in Time.com, written for the Wall Street Journal, Industry…
New Contest — Pose a Lean Question or Challenge
We have winner (12/27) Hi, blog readers. It’s time for another Lean Blog contest. Our first was the “Everyday Lean” contest, where the winner won a copy of Jamie Flinchbaugh’s book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Lean: Lessons from the Road.…
