How to Fix a Broken Bicycle Chain – WikiHow Here is a WSJ article on WikiHow, printed today. Standardized Work is a core concept and a foundation of the Toyota Production System (scroll down) and Lean Manufacturing. The idea is…
As Morning Traffic Grows, Commuters Opt For Earlier Rush Hour – WSJ.com This WSJ article (free version here) talks about how commuters are, in many cases, choosing to leave for work earlier (or later) to beat traffic. The article bemoans…
The Prix Fixe Is In – WSJ.com: Interesting article about the fine dining industry in the WSJ last week. A few ideas reminded me of lean concepts — resourcefulness, making use of “scraps,” and doing so in a way that’s…
Managers Rate Themselves High, But Workers Prove Tough Critics – WSJ.com There are always stories about how something like 80% of employees think they are above average and that’s mocked. OK, it’s statistically possible that 80% are above average (it’s…
WSJ.com – Ford and Chrysler Show Dark Outlook For U.S. Car Makers I received an email from a blog reader, Jack, from Tampa FL. I assume he’s from outside the auto industry and he wrote: In light of Mr. Womack’s…
WSJ.com – Made in USA? Now, Customers Get to Choose Back when the Chinese iPod factory was in the news (prison or not?), I asked if people would be willing to pay more for an American made iPod, you know,…
“Starbucks’ Sales Slide on Frozen Drinks” Starbucks is blaming operational problems for their sales slide (actually, it’s just the rate of sales increase that fell, from 7% to 4% – let’s ignore the faulty Wall Street math that views a…
WSJ.com – In the Lead “For Now, the FocusIs More on Innovation Than on Budget Cuts” Free version hereThis column goes into the category, almost, of the “what’s beyond lean?” article that pops up from time to time. The trend…
WSJ.com – In China, 3,500 Test the Waters Of the Pearl River I’ve written before about how polluted China’s rivers are, the cost of unbridled factory growth and an unregulated environment. While you might think the article linked to above…
WSJ.com – Can Mr. Fix-It Find Time for GM?: I knew companies played games with inventory numbers. Although there’s no rational business reason to do so, a lot of public companies purposefully “drain out” inventory (raw material, WIP, and finished…
WSJ.com – Can Mr. Fix-It Find Time for GM? Part of the discussion about a GM-Nisssan/Renault alliance has been the old “purchasing efficiencies” driven by the idea of economies of scale. This means, if you’re bigger, you get a better…
One of the core ideas of the Toyota Production System is the recognition that people are indeed human and are therefore fallible (part of the “respect for humanity” tenet of TPS). No amount of “be careful” warnings will prevent all…
