Tag: Taiichi Ohno
Reader Questions: Lean and Process Improvement in Healthcare
I received some really good questions from a reader, Nick, who has recently crossed industries to bring his Lean Manufacturing experience into healthcare. Since...
Book Review: One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen...
While doing research for my upcoming book on "Healthcare Kaizen," I found two books that touched on kaizen-style continuous improvement in our everyday lives....
A Kaizen Quote from Taiichi Ohno
As I'm working hard this week to finish, with my co-author Joe Swartz, the manuscript for our upcoming book "Healthcare Kaizen," I'm not taking...
What Are Barriers to “Kaizen” in Healthcare?
Regular readers might know that I'm working on a second book project, about "kaizen" (continuous improvement) in healthcare. Sign up to receive more info...
Mini-Review: First Three Chapters of the Virginia Mason Medical Center Lean...
I've finally started reading the new book by Charles Kenney, Transforming Health Care: Virginia Mason Medical Center's Pursuit of the Perfect Patient Experience, and...
Safety First – Even for a Northwestern Football Game at Wrigley...
I'm really excited that I'm going to be attending tomorrow's Northwestern football game that's being played at Wrigley Field, the legendary baseball stadium that...
Interview with Masaaki Imai on Taiichi Ohno and Respect for People
TL;DR (2026): This interview with Masaaki Imai still matters because it captures an early, unvarnished view of how "respect for people" was practiced--not idealized--by...
Follow Up Q&A from “On the Mend” Webinar
The Lean Enterprise Institute has posted the follow up text Q&A by John Toussaint MD and Roger Gerard PhD, co-authors of the book On...
Correcting John Seddon’s Claims About Ohno, Womack, and Jones on Standardized...
When I read John Seddon's book Freedom from Command & Control: Rethinking Management for Lean Service, I was a fan. I thought, "Here is...
The Toyota Texas Plant Tour – Concepts From the Visitor Center
I'll start the week with another post about my tour of the TMMTX (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas) plant in San Antonio. Today, I'll write...
The Hidden Cost of 100% Utilization: Bad Service and Long Waits
If your goal is long wait times and frustrated customers, design your system for 100% utilization. Whether it's airlines, call centers, or healthcare, the...
Guest Post: You Don’t Have to be Lean to be Good
Mark's note: Today's post is from a regular guest blogger and a friend of mine, Dan Markovitz - his regular blog can be found...
