Tag: Kaizen

Kaizen: Daily Improvement, Learning, and Leadership in Practice

Kaizen is often misunderstood as small ideas or isolated improvement events. In practice, Kaizen is a daily, people-centered approach to learning and improving work—supported by leadership, good systems, and psychological safety. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and real-world examples of Kaizen in action, across healthcare and other industries, with a consistent focus on leadership behaviors, respect for people, and learning from problems rather than hiding them.

Maybe “Just Do Its” Should Be Called “Just PDSA Its”?

6
tl;dr: We often label small changes as "Just Do Its," but that can skip over useful thinking. Even the simplest Kaizen can follow a...

The Problem with the “Wedge” Metaphor in Lean Standardized Work

12
TL;DR: The wedge metaphor, often used to represent standardized work in Lean, can send the wrong message. Instead of assuming people will backslide without...

When Problems are Hidden in Kudos: From Celebrations to Root Cause...

4
I want to give credit to my friend and colleague Tony Milian for the idea that prompted this blog post. Tony and I used...

How Cleveland Clinic Uses Daily Tiered Huddles to Drive Lean, Accountability,...

0
Cleveland Clinic's daily tiered huddles are not just short meetings--they're a Lean management system that connects front-line realities to executive decision-making in real time....

Podcast #346 — Mark Ryan, Transformation, Kaizen, and Management at Franciscan...

0
Joining me for Episode 346 of the podcast is Mark Ryan, a Transformation Coach and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at Franciscan Health. Mark will...

Applying Lean and Kaizen at Chick-fil-A: Engaging Every Employee in Continuous...

3
Chick-fil-A is widely known for fast service, high quality, and a strong culture--but behind that reputation is a deliberate approach to Lean and Kaizen...

Come See a Culture of Continuous Improvement at Franciscan Health This...

0
Registration is open for "Kaizen Live!" -- the 2019 edition. Joe Swartz and I are excited to announce that we are hosting the fourth site...

Toyota’s Takaoka #2 Line: Flexibility, Kaizen, and the Culture Behind World-Class...

2
tl;dr: Toyota's Takaoka #2 line shows how flexibility and Kaizen go hand-in-hand. With rapid, low-cost changeovers, worker-driven improvements, and a focus on customer needs,...

Why Lean Leaders Ask “Why?” — and “Why Not?” — to...

1
TL;DR: Lean improvement depends on asking both "why?" and "why not?" Leaders who challenge assumptions and refuse to accept "we've always done it this...

When Having a Process Improvement Idea Means You’re Weak?

7
I guess I'm wired for improvement. Or, it's just become a habit. Or, it's both. I celebrate moments when I can identify an opportunity for...

Is “Kaizen” a Slogan or a Methodology for the Seattle Mariners?

2
Here is an interesting article that a few people pointed me toward the other day about the Seattle Mariners team: Mariners Sunday mailbag: Explaining the...

Another Example of Small Steps as a Starting Point for Success

0
You might remember one of my favorite podcasts was with Dr. Bob Maurer of UCLA, author of two great books on the Kaizen style...
An AI that won't just give you the answer. That's what makes it useful.Free Demo -- Learn More
+ +
Free 48-hour demo - no credit card needed (3)