"Bad Systems in the News" Update
Here are some updates on the “Bad Systems” I featured last week, Northwest Airlines and the NBA. I know I promised more positive posts, but let me follow up on these stories… First, the NBA. I don’t have a link…
Here are some updates on the “Bad Systems” I featured last week, Northwest Airlines and the NBA. I know I promised more positive posts, but let me follow up on these stories… First, the NBA. I don’t have a link…
by Dan Markovitz This blog has commented (here and here) on the WSJ’s rush to predict the folly of just-in-time manufacturing in the wake of the earthquake last week that crippled Japanese auto production. (“Blame it on kanban, the just-in-time…
At Ford, the ‘Outsider’ Is Optimistic – WSJ.com There’s an interview with Ford CEO Alan Mulally today, we’ve featured him before on the blog (click the “Ford” link at the bottom of the post for more on the company). The…
A Key Strategy of Japan’s Car Makers Backfires – WSJ.com Be sure to read the comments for an excellent story from Matthew May about the 1997 Toyota situation and parallels to today. I predicted it on Wednesday, that the Japan…
P&G’s Global Target: Shelves of Tiny Stores – WSJ.com: Interesting article in the WSJ about how Proctor & Gamble has had to adapt its approach in countries like Mexico, with different types of customers and different retail models: “In marketing…
In my morning reading yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to see the phrase “root cause” in two stories I’ve written about here: Preventable Medical Errors (free, Modesto Bee) Deadly Products from China ($$, WSJ) I have a post I’ve written,…
The online WSJ is free today, sponsored by Dell. I don’t know how much of the old archive is open, but if you haven’t been able to read articles referenced here, you might want to check it out. Click on…
There were a couple of articles in the WSJ this past week that, in an indirect way, talk about the value of being at the “gemba” as a manager (gemba is a Japanese word that means “the actual place” where…
Big Boxes Aim to Speed Up Shopping (WSJ) No, this isn’t about waste in packaging (I saw how the UK is pushing milk in plastic bags that you put into a reusable plastic jug at home, 75% less landfill space).…
Updated: Delphi workers in NY rejected the contract proposal. Updated: It looks like the contract has been accepted by the UAW… I got caught up on the WSJ during my long trip home from the UK and saw many aspects…
‘Face of Toyota’ Steps Up At a Delicate Time – WSJ.com: I’m surprised that Jim Press, about to be elected to Toyota’s board, would be so blunt: “Mr. Press — who has said his job is to be ‘the face…
Report: Toyota May Slow US Plant Builds: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance WSJ article: REDUCED SPEED Toyota’s New U.S. Plan: Stop Building Factories Toyota is concerned about overexpansion and overcapacity in the U.S., apparently. In Japan, most of Toyota’s factories…