Tag: Japan
The “Safety Myth” That Almost Destroyed Half of Japan — And...
I watched the HBO documentary "Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare" the other day. It's chilling.
The film gives a detailed account of the nine days after...
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...
You Can’t Punish Your Way to Pride: Deming, Toyota, and Learning...
Fear Drives Compliance -- Respect Builds Pride, Learning, and Improvement
TL;DR: Don Ephlin once wrote, "You can't punish your way to pride." That insight still...
What Ford and the UAW Really Learned from Japan: Listening, Respect,...
The Real Lesson from Japan Wasn't Tools -- It Was Trust and Listening
TL;DR: When a group of Ford and UAW leaders traveled to Japan...
Lean Lessons from Japan: Mindsets, Culture, and the Challenge of Speaking...
This article is based on my recent Catalysis webinar, "Lean Lessons from Japan: Mindsets, Culture, and the Challenge of Speaking Up." The session was...
What Visiting Japan Taught Me About Lean Leadership and Healthcare Culture
This October, I'll be returning to Japan for another Lean healthcare study trip--my seventh time overall and my fifth healthcare-focused visit.
With each visit, I...
Kaiteki: The Japanese Philosophy Behind Motivated Employees and Lean Success
tl;dr: Kaiteki is a Japanese management philosophy focused on comfort, purpose, and respect for people--and it helps explain why motivated employees and Lean success...
Are Japanese Hospitals More Lean? What Global Healthcare Leaders Can Learn...
TL;DR: While some Japanese hospitals excel at Lean, many face the same cultural and systemic barriers seen elsewhere. Visiting Japan isn't about finding a...
Lean Isn’t About Cutting Heads–It’s About Growing People and Cultures of...
One of the most important, and most misunderstood, principles in Lean thinking is this:
Lean is not a cost-cutting strategy. Lean is a people-development strategy.
If...
Lean in Japan Works–But Not Because They’re Japanese
Why Lean Thinking Succeeds in Japan--Not Because of Culture, But Because of Intentional Leadership and Systems
One of the most persistent myths I've encountered over...
Inside the Lean Healthcare Accelerator: Lessons from Japan with Dave Fitzpatrick
Learning Lean from Japan isn't about copying tools or culture--it's about seeing what's possible when organizations commit to respect for people, continuous improvement, and...
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: May 2, 2025
This edition of Ryan McCormack's Operational Excellence Mixtape examines the shifting balance between people, systems, and strategy in the pursuit of better performance. From...
