Mistake-proofing expert Martin Hinckley joins the podcast to explain why traditional inspection methods can’t catch rare mistakes — and what it actually takes to eliminate them. We cover the difference between mistakes and variation, the real meaning of poka-yoke, and…
Factories Fading, Hospitals Step In – WSJ It’s inevitable — as manufacturing jobs decline and our population ages, more people will shift from manufacturing jobs into healthcare. (Free version of article here) BANGOR, Maine — In this aging manufacturing region,…
Why do so many Lean efforts fail at the leadership level? Jeffrey Liker explains how Toyota develops managers over time–through stability, daily coaching, and deep respect for people–rather than quick rotations or promotions. Here is LeanBlog Podcast #41 with Dr.…
Listen: Here is LeanBlog Podcast #40, an interview with a retired UAW/GM employee who wishes to remain anonymous, at this point. We have traded many emails over the past year, about Lean, and I’m impressed with this individual’s true passion…
Dell to close Austin plant, cutting more than 800 jobs | Statesman Business Blog I’m angry. I try not to blog when I’m angry, so I’ll try to watch my words carefully. Probably won’t succeed. This recent news hits home…
By Ralf Lippold, Leipzig Germany: Kaizen and the Art of Creative Thinking – The Scientific Thinking Mechanism How does it contribute to the lean knowledge base? Shigeo Shingo offers a scientific way to get into Kaizen from a bundle of…
Jeffrey Liker explains why Lean culture is difficult to replicate and why most organizations never move beyond tools and events. Sustainable Lean requires long-term leadership commitment, stability, and deep people development–not quick fixes. Here is LeanBlog Podcast #39, once again…
By Jason Turgeon: In my first post a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the tension between what I called “new” and “old” environmentalism. Not that I had expected to be the first to notice this tension, but I…
Time to pick on UPS again (see the “UPS” link at the bottom of the post)… Has anyone else seen the UPS “whiteboard” ad (the ones with the annoying long-haired business-casual corporate hippie guy) that’s running during almost every NCAA…
Dennis Quaid Recounts Twins’ Drug Ordeal, Actor Tells 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft Medical Errors Kill Thousands – CBS News Did you see the actor Dennis Quaid on 60 Minutes last week? He talked about the sad case where his twin…
Nurse + Blog = PixelRN: 16% of the US economy runs on scrawly, handwritten notes. PixelRN is a blog written by a nurse (who is unfortunately considering leaving the field). She writes about the problems involved with handwritten orders, charts,…
ABC News: Airport Security To Be Easier for Families? I am probably giving the Transportation Security Agency waaaaaay too much credit here, but this story made me think of the “PDCA” cycle of “Plan Do Check Act” (known as the…
