CURRENTS / ‘Toyota way’ inspires lean practices From a Japanese newspaper, an article about the impact the Toyota Production System is having on organizations around the world. The first example is the U.S. military, the Air Force more specifically: Since…
Sometimes, I have a collection of news stories or links that I either don’t have time to blog about, assume you don’t have time to read about, or don’t really merit a full blog post. So my “WIP” of “draft”…
Here is Part 3 of my exchange with Slava Boltrukevich, from Moscow. Here are Part 1 and Part 2 of our discussion about Lean in Russia. Mark: Is there a “James Womack of Russia” or do people there tend to…
Harry Hillaker–Father of the F-16 Toyota’s Value Innovation: The Art of Tension Mark has written before about “Everyday Lean“, those little examples of error-proofing or kanban or flow that we see in our day-to-day lives. In a similar vein, one…
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…
C.E.O. Evolution Phase 3 – New York Times In this quote: Mr. [X] “is disarmingly unpretentious,” he added. “…he towers over other C.E.O.’s when it comes to putting in people stronger than himself or his ability to talk about setbacks.”…
TWI Summit – Website It really looks like a powerhouse lineup they are starting to form for the 2008 Training Within Industry conference in Orlando, to be held next May. Speakers will include: Art Smalley David Meier Alan Robinson They…
Link to Purchase on SME.org I was very honored to be asked to write an essay/case study on lean healthcare for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers new “Lean Yearbook” publication and that book is out now. It’s a large magazine…
NPR : Reasons for GM Slide Go Beyond Work Force Honestly, I’d expect more from liberal NPR and their headline. You’d expect NPR to be the friend of the UAW “working man” (or woman), but I don’t appreciate how their…
Amazon.com: Toyota Talent: Books: Jeffrey Liker,David Meier This has been an exciting week for me. Monday, I met David Mann, author of Creating A Lean Culture, in person and had a chance to hear him speak and to speak with…
Driving on the wrong side of the road — the myth of Japanese efficiency in car manufacturing A new book is out attacking Lean. Or maybe the book is actually attacking “L.A.M.E.”, or “Lean as Misguidedly Executed” at Rover. This…
In this 2007 interview, Jim Womack reflects on The Machine That Changed the World and how its lessons on Lean and Toyota’s system are still misunderstood. Episode #19 of the Lean Blog Podcast brings the return of Jim Womack. Jim…