Article

How Cascading A3s Deploy Responsibility to Think as Well as Assign KPIs

During a recent virtual workshop on how to use the A3 problem-solving methodology, a CEO asked how to cascade A3s down through every level of…

by David Verble

Article

Two Giants, Two Communities, One Lasting Thing

In this graceful elegy of the impact of two pioneers who recently passed away, John Shook says: "Ezra and Norm belonged to adjacent communities –…

Article

Building A Diverse and Capable Workforce from the Bottom Up

Combining lean thinking and practices with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives builds more inclusive, engaged, and resilient businesses. Here's how.

by Adrienne C. Trimble and Mark Reich

Article

How the Toyota Way and Toyota Kata Fit Together

The author of The Toyota Way explains where Toyota Kata fits with Toyota’s broader management principles — and how each enhances the other to help…

by Jeffrey Liker

Article

Understanding Customer Value: How Accounting Applies this Foundational Lean Concept to its Work

Putting the entire customer experience first in thinking, not just the transaction, is the Lean Accountant's goal, asserts Nick Katko and Mike De Luca,

Article

Lean 'n Food: Rethinking the Retail Food Industry

In this clip from a recent LEI Webinar, Haven Hot Chicken co-founder Etkin Tekin explains the process of working through the guest experience and how…

by Lean Leaper

Case Study

The Backbone of Lean in the Back Shops

Learn why the lean concept of every part, every interval (EPEI) is the “backbone” of lean in this aerospace machine shop by leveling the mix…

Case Study

Sell One, Buy One, Make One: Transforming from Conventional to Lean Distribution

Big batches. Long lead times. Infrequent deliveries. Large inventories to cover fluctuations in demand. These aren't characteristics normally attributed to lean paragon Toyota, but they…

Case Study

Putting Lean Principles in the Warehouse

While lean principles and practices have been widely adopted in manufacturing over the last couple of decades, their use in the warehouse and distribution center…

by Doug Bartholomew

Article

Strategy Deployment In Action: One Executive's Perspective - Follow up Q & A

Webinar presenters David Brule and Pascal Dennis answer questions from their webinar about strategy deployment on March 12, 2009.

Article

On Our Watch

A few weeks ago I walked through the Arsenale in Venice, which has been in continuous use for building and overhauling military ships since 1104.…

Article

Lean IT as a Factory?

Lean IT authors Steve Bell and Mike Orzen comment on a study by McKinsey & Company that 64% of executives are currently deploying Lean IT (Lean techniques…

Article

Lean Thinking is Horizontal Thinking

In the first of a two-part interview,  Jim Womack, founder and senior advisor of LEI, talks with LeanBlog podcaster Mark Graban about a variety of lean…

Article

Lean Continuous Improvement as Culture

Author David Verble shares three fundamental ways that a lean culture bases its practice of continuous improvement on the principle of respect.

Article

Why A3s Won’t Work in My Organization (Part One)

Coach Eric Ethington shares obstacles you may be encountering as you implement A3 thinking--and suggests ways to proceed.

Article

Lean in Sales and Marketing

“Half my advertising budget is wasted – trouble is, I don’t know which half,” department store magnate and marketing pioneer, John Wanamaker, famously said. That…

Article

Think of the best mentor/coach you've had on your lean journey. What did he or she do to help you become a better problem solver?

Whether practical, profound, or humorous, the guidance that your best mentors provided was just what you needed, just when you needed it during your personal…

Article

Who Owns Your A3? (Part Two)

In this second of two columns, Mark Reich explains why people must own their A3 reports as a means of developing their ability to properly…

Article

When problems arise, what helps you keep your focus on the work?

Learning how to create and adhere to management standard work requires a clear understanding of where all team members add value in service of our…

by Lex Schroeder

Article

Selling Lean

Thousands of people have spent decades trying to disseminate lean management concepts. Many lean proponents can point to results showing lean’s advantages over traditional modern…