Tag: Ford
Calling a Supervisor a “Process Coach” Doesn’t Mean the Job Really...
Ford spends roughly $100,000 a year on each of its first-line production supervisors. The title on the job posting is "Process Coach" - language...
Did Ford’s Andon Cord Problem Ever Get Fixed? Help Me Find...
In 2007, I wrote about a BBC article that included a number I've never quite been able to shake. Workers at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky...
What Ford and the UAW Saw in Japan in 1981 —...
In 1981, Ford Motor Company and UAW leaders traveled to Japan to study Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda -- and they came home with very...
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: January 9, 2026
Summary: Today's "mixtape" post brings together timely ideas on continuous improvement, leadership, productivity, and workplace culture. From avoiding "blank slate" metrics and rethinking PDCA/PDSA...
Lean Whiskey #46: AI (ChatGPT) Takes Over Lean Whiskey, Including the...
Listen:
In Episode 46, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh spend a lot of time talking about AI, but that still, as always, begins with the...
Don Petersen, Ford CEO Who Learned from Dr. Deming, Passes Away...
The other day, I read about the passing of Donald E. Peterson, who was a key CEO for Ford Motor Company in the 1980s...
Lean Whiskey #42: Reflecting on the GE Lean Mindset Event, Including...
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In Episode 42, Jamie Flinchbaugh visits Mark Graban in northern Kentucky and they get to record an episode in person. This was the origin...
Lean Leadership Lessons from Ford and Uber CEOs: Culture, Crisis, and...
tl;dr: In a riveting discussion, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi delve into Lean principles, cultural shifts, and operational challenges. From...
Reflections on GE’s Lean Mindset Event: Learning, Leadership, and Culture
This bonus episode captures an unscripted, post-event conversation with Jim Womack, Katie Anderson, Jamie V. Parker, and Mark Graban reflecting on GE's "Lean Mindset"...
The Lean Mindset in Action: Lessons from GE CEO Larry Culp...
Updated: The recordings from this inspiring day are now online. I'll be sharing thoughts and reflections in future posts.
I was very excited to learn...
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: September 23, 2022
Thanks as always to Ryan McCormick for this... there's always so much good reading, listening, and viewing shared here by him!
Insights about improvement, innovation,...
Remembering Hajime Oba of Toyota and TSSC (1945-2020)
I've seen a number of people post on LinkedIn about the passing of the legendary "Mr. Oba" of Toyota (sometimes spelled "Mr. Ohba") --...
