Listen: LeanBlog Podcast #36 once again features our friend and frequent guest, Norman Bodek, noted lean author, consultant, and President of PCS Press. In this episode, Norman talks about his most recent publication, a text by the legendary Shigeo Shingo,…
Here’s a photo of something I bought at SuperTarget last week, this box of whole-grain Quinoa (snicker if you must… I’m trying to eat somewhat healthy). The box is next to a wine bottle (um, also for “heart health?”) for…
There are two new Lean job postings on www.leanboard.org, links below. No need to register to read the postings, but you need to register (for free) to post jobs of your own (or to post a resume). No placement or…
GM Expects Car-Price Rise – WSJ.com GM is raising prices: “In December, GM raised its prices an average of 1.5%…” This is great news if you’re an employee, stockholder, or fan of General Motors. This means market demand is strong…
Toyota beats GM in global production; GM No. 1 in global sales So it turns out that GM *sold* more cars than Toyota in 2007, but it’s basically rounding error and a virtual tie (as pointed out well by the…
Article Link: Lifting specialists set to lose weight I’m always a bit skeptical when I hear about Lean being a “project.” Sure, a project can be a starting point, but as the first step to transitioning to a Lean management…
I’ve read the first chapter of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way. I’m obviously not going to get through the whole thing before my podcast interview with Jeff Liker tomorrow. If you have questions for the…
NPR: Airline Prices Depend on Airport I haven’t harped on this theme for a while, but I was reminded of it from this NPR story on airline prices. The report expressed such confusion (and almost outrage) that airline flight prices…
NWLEAN : Message: Why does Lean struggle to take hold in the U.S.? I’m a member of the Yahoo Group called NWLEAN, where there’s often some good discussion about Lean. The question was posed: “Why does Lean struggle to take…
The Lean Blog is turning into a family affair… my dad, Bob, comments once in a while and now my mom, an elementary school teacher, is feeding me blog material. From an education newsletter she received (I can’t find a…
As if explaining Lean to people at hospitals doesn’t stretch my brain enough, I sometimes find it’s a fun (or at least helpful) challenge to explain what it is I do to folks who’ve had no exposure to it (like…
“Help Wanted” highlights skills drain in U.S – Yahoo! News Here’s an interesting story about the shortage of machinists: While millions of jobs making everything from textiles to steel have moved to new powerhouses like China in recent years, precision…