Article

Any advice for how to implement real pull across the company?

Dear Gemba Coach: My boss, the operations VP, has asked me to implement a pull system across the whole company. I’ve practiced lean for many…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Is it really necessary for a sensei to act obnoxiously?

Dear Gemba Coach: Is it really necessary for a sensei to act obnoxiously?

by Michael Ballé

Article

As CEO, how do I get my management team to support the lean effort?

Dear Gemba Coach: As a CEO, lean has enabled me to renew our company’s profitable growth, so I love it. But getting my management team…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Why a Lean Transformation Requires a New Quoting Process, Part 1

How to ensure your lean transformation leads to improved profitability.

Article

Lean in Lean Thinkers to Root Out Racial Inequity

A lean leader calls on other lean thinkers to leverage humble inquiry and other problem-solving tools to eradicate the waste of racism.

by Christopher D. Chapman

Article

Leadership Q&A: Thomas Hartman, Senior Director, Autoliv Americas

From the LEI senior executive series on Lean Leadership: Autoliv’s Thomas Hartman describes the development of a lean problem solving culture, from early instruction by…

by Doug Bartholomew

Article

Autoliv: Giving Power to the People

A case study looks at how Autoliv developed and sustained a lean-problem solving culture and how this global company shares best practices.

by Doug Bartholomew

Article

Lean Roundup: Lean in the News

"While few business leaders seem to be discussing lean explicitly these days, there are certainly a great deal of tangentially lean conversations happening wherever you…

by Tom Ehrenfeld

Article

Building a Lean Culture at Turner Construction: A Talk with SVP Charlie Murphy

"Whether it’s safety, quality, production system, to me it just makes sense for us to contribute to the improvement of the whole industry," says Turner…

Article

The Time for Healthcare Leaders to Implement Lean Is Now – Stat!

Pioneering healthcare leaders have demonstrated that lean applied to healthcare can help solve the problems of quality, delivery of care, and cost. It’s time for…

Article

React Less and Improve More by Using SPC More Effectively

When we stop reacting to “noise” in a metric, we can better focus our improvement efforts, waste less time, and improve more, says Mark Graban.…

by Mark Graban and Mark Graban

Article

Do CEOs Matter?

Journalist Jacob Stoller sits down with LEI's own John Shook to discuss just how important the role and support of the CEO is in the…

by Lean Leaper

Article

Our Burning Platform and Using the 5 Whys to Think More Deeply about Corrective Action

A call to action: As lean thinkers, we should join with our diversity, equity, and inclusion experts to help transform our business cultures. We must…

by Christopher D. Chapman

Article

Ask Art: Why Implement Lean During A Pandemic?

Implementing lean during this pandemic will allow many more companies to emerge from this economic crisis in far better shape than they were in before,…

by Art Byrne

Article

How to Create a Lean Management Book Club that Executives Will Actually Attend

At the start of a lean transformation, a continuous improvement leader convinced her division president that a book club would be a good way to…

by Chet Marchwinski

Article

Achieve Your Deeper Goals Through Daily Work With Hoshin Kanri

Hoshin kanri is a living process of planning, testing ideas, adapting, and learning, says Jeff Liker, in which people work towards clear targets addressing the…

by Jeffrey Liker

Case Study

Cultivating a Lean Problem-Solving Culture at O.C. Tanner

O.C. Tanner is in the appreciation business. It develops employee reward and recognition programs and manufactures a wide variety of emblems, rings, trophies, and other…

by Doug Bartholomew

Case Study

Manufacturing Balancing Act: Pull Versus ERP

In this follow-up story to our case study about Phase 2 Medical Manufacturing, Inc., the company faces an enviable dilemma: because the lean transformation has…

by Chet Marchwinski

Case Study

How a Retailer's Distribution Center Exemplifies the Lean Precept “Respect for People,” and Reaps the Benefits

To make sure training engaged and resonated with people after previous attempts at a lean transformation faltered, LifeWay matched lean management tools and principles to…

by David Drickhamer

Article

Why Lean Thinkers Should Ground Their Work in Sustainability

There's a solid case for implementing green thinking just as there's one for implementing lean thinking. The challenge, but more importantly the opportunity for business,…