Hello, I’m Karen Martin. I began my career as a scientist, received a Master’s Degree in adult learning, and then transitioned into operations management and business performance improvement where I built, managed, and improved rapid-growth operations.
I left Corporate and founded my consulting firm in 1993. A long-time Deming student, I began studying and applying Lean in 2000 and have authored four books: Value Stream Mapping, The Outstanding Organization, Metrics-Based Process Mapping, and The Kaizen Event Planner.
In life and in business, I have more questions than answers. But these days I’m thinking about…
- What are the best ways to help people understand and learn how to apply the full spectrum of lean management principles, practices, and tools (vs. the watered down, narrow understanding and applications we often see)?
- How do we help business leaders see that Lean principles apply to everything in business from strategy to product development to accounting to supplier relationship to compliance to staff recruitment, hiring, and onboarding?
- How do we help improvement professionals learn how to go beyond incremental improvement and help their companies achieve substantive gains that shift market share and grow margins?
What are YOU thinking about these days? What problems are you encountering? Ask me anything!