Article

When should I push and when should I praise?

Dear Gemba Coach: I am in charge of a service activity and have started a lean approach with a sensei. In our last gemba tour, one…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Ask Art: Why Should I Set Stretch Goals?

Art Byrne urges you to take the lean leap and set stretch goals. Setting ambitious goals shows respect for your people. Use the lean tools…

by Art Byrne

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Ask Art: How is lean the opposite of everything people have been trained to do?

Art Byrne explains why, and how, lean practice is the opposite of what most people have learned about work in any setting

by Art Byrne

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Ask Art: How Do You Align Incentives for a Lean Turnaround?

A veteran lean leader offers practical strategies for incentivizing employees during a transition to lean management.

by Art Byrne

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I'm thinking about outsourcing some administrative activities to be more flexible, but what does lean say about outsourcing?

Dear Gemba Coach: Financial results do not allow me to have excess people. After two years of struggling, I'm thinking about outsourcing some administrative activities…

by Michael Ballé

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Starting Up, Growing Up, and Starting Over

In an essay first published in Gemba Walks (2nd Ed) and adapted for the Post, LEI founder and thought leader Jim Womack reflects on the…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

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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

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Let Joy Power Your Organization's Flight

Joy is a powerful word in life and, as it turns out, in business too, says Rich Sheridan. A company that discovers the relevant principles…

Article

Improvement for the Sake of Improvement Means Nothing

"We need to dig deep to understand why we do what we do and question whether it really provides value to anyone." Read the story…

by Dave LaHote

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Ask Art: The Benefits of Kaizen Learning vs. Traditional Problem-Solving

Kaizen is for learning and doing, says Art Byrne, who points out the benefits of this "learn-by-doing" approach over traditional problem-solving.

by Art Byrne

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Let's Celebrate Work

Is your work meaningful or menial? LEI Senior Advisor John Shook challenges us to aim to make all work meaningful by building our businesses based…

by John Shook

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Learning to Solve Problems By... Wait for It... Solving Problems

A team learns what matters when it comes to problem-solving using lean thinking and practices.

by Josh Howell

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Obeya Management: 10 Practical Tips to Create a Command Center for Success 

Failing to manage the interfaces between functional disciplines may be the greatest source of waste, frustration, and failure in product development, according to Jim Morgan,…

by James Morgan, PhD

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Ask Art: How high is up with lean?

Art Byrne explains that continuous improvement really is continuous and that there is no limit to the “up” in lean.

by Art Byrne

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Can Lean Succeed in a Strong Labor Environment?

Lean is all about people, says Art Byrne, regarding the question of making lean succeed in a union environment. He argues that if you treat…

by Art Byrne

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An Innovative Framework for Designing Better Products and Services – and a Better Future

Because of the enormous “shadow” it casts over the entire enterprise for years, product development literally designs the future of companies, employees, customers, and suppliers.…

by Chet Marchwinski and James Morgan, PhD

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The Formula for a Successful Management System: LB * OS = MS

In order to reap the benefits of an effective management system it is important that the operating system and leadership behaviors be aligned and consistent,…

by James Morgan, PhD

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What Too Many Value Stream Maps Completely Miss

Believe it or not, up to half of all the value-stream maps that cross Drew Locher's desk are missing something extremely important. In his first…

by Drew Locher

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The Power of Inspiration

Lean thinker Paige Henry shares a call to action: let’s get our leaders and people to realize “it’s about the think” to prevent problems happening…

Article

We’re installing an andon system – what should we expect?

Dear Gemba Coach: We’re installing an andon system – what should we expect?

by Michael Ballé