Article

Andon Cues Service Center to Respond to Customer Queue

An Ohio Mutual service center has no andon cord to stop a production line but the principal is the same as in a factory --…

by Chet Marchwinski

Article

Kaizen is Fun? Really?

Dear Gemba Coach: I have been learning lean for three years now. My question to you: How is Kaizen 'fun'? Doing lean shakes people out of…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Lean Case Study Interview: Q&A with Chad Vander Wilt, Manager of Transportation and Logistics

Chad Vander Wilt, manager of transportation and logistics at Vermeer, participated in one of the company's first kaizen events as the Iowa manufacturer moved from…

Article

How do I fix our main delivery processes -- again?

Dear Gemba Coach: I’m part of a large logistics organization and our on-time-delivery is simply disastrous. We’ve done a first value-stream map to improve our…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Two LEI Learning Group Partner Executives Honored with National Award 

GE Appliances, a Haier company, Pella Corporation, and the nonprofit Lean Enterprise Institute celebrate colleagues’ recognition for demonstrating excellence and leadership in their careers and…

by Patricia Panchak

Article

Learning Through Struggle

LEI coach Danielle Blais reflects on one of the most frustrating (and ultimately, most rewarding) coaching moments she's experienced so far in her career.

by Danielle McGuiness

Article

How Well Can Lean Principles Fuel New Ventures Like Tesla and Rivian?

How well do lean principles apply to the grueling challenge of launching a company—let alone launching a brand new automotive company?

by Tom Ehrenfeld

Article

Why Social Entrepreneurship is Dead

Despite all the hype, entrepreneur Nathan Rothstein (of Project Repat) believes social entrepreneurship is dead. Read what he recommends for those of us looking to…

by Nathan Rothstein

Article

Following Four Steps to a Lean Material-Handling System Leads to a Leap in Performance

The Delphi Delco Electronics facility in Kokomo, IN, followed a methodical four-step implementation process to replace a traditional material-handling system for purchased parts with a…

by Chet Marchwinski

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

Case Study

Lean Transformation Lives and Dies With Tools and Dies

The story of The Wiremold Company's lean transformation is familiar to many Lean Thinkers. But what isn't as well known is how the company transformed…

Article

Meeting the 19-Billion-Dose Challenge

What does it take to meet the historic challenge of rapidly increasing the annual global vaccine capacity from 5 billion to 19 billion doses? And…

Video

Art of Lean on Problem-Solving, Part 3: Lessons From Martial Arts

In part three of his problem-solving series, Art takes on the techniques (kata) and ways (waza) behind martial arts, revealing necessary coaching practices in the…

by Art Smalley

Article

Why We're Thankful For Lean

Thanksgiving is a time of year when Americans take a day to step back and appreciate everything they have to be thankful for. Here at…

by Lean Enterprise Institute and Tracey Richardson

Article

Ask Art: How Do You Create a Lean Culture?

The author of the best-selling books The Lean Turnaround and The Lean Turnaround Action Guide and former CEO of The Wiremold Company offers in-depth, practical…

by Art Byrne

Article

Training as a Crutch

Your organization has a problem. Something has gone wrong. A process that was previously working fine is no longer working. You know this because of…

by Eric Ethington

Article

Never Fail...To Create the Conditions for People to be Successful

In this excerpt from Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, Katie Anderson shares the story of how Isao Yoshino learned first-hand the value that Toyota…

by Katie Anderson

Article

If lean really is about innovation, why does so much of it seem to be about logistics?

Dear Gemba Coach: If lean really is about innovation, why does so much of it seem to be about logistics, with truck preparation areas, leveling…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Your Value Stream Map Looks a Little Different...

If you think there’s a different way of applying a tool, ask, “Are we changing the tool to prevent us from changing the organization, or…

by Aaron Hunt

Video

Lean Principles Are the Bread & Butter of this Retail Transformation

Entrepreneurs explain how their chain of bakeries and retail stores used lean continuous improvement to profitably expand, engage employees, and meet growing customer demand for…

by Lean Enterprise Institute