Article

Process Leadership

I first heard the term Kaikaku over ten years ago when travelling with a Toyota Sensei around Japan, while researching our Lean Thinking book. As…

by Dan Jones

Article

A Real S&OP Opera

Have you been implementing Lean but are still losing money due to inconsistent customer demand? Well, don't blame the customer. Brent Wahba suggests a different…

by Brent Wahba

Article

Ask Art: How One-Piece-Flow Supports Quality

"One-piece-flow is the key to quality improvements," writes Art Byrne. "In my experience it is pretty common to get a 10x or better gain in…

by Art Byrne

Video

How to Fold a T-Shirt

Training Within Industry Job Instruction is a four-step method that teaches an individual how to do a job correctly, safely, and consistently while meeting all…

by Josh Howell

Article

Surfer Culture Meets Standardized Work

Can surfing instructors and students really learn standardized work? Read the surprising story of how lean coach Sammy Obara worked with Pacific Surfing School to…

by Doug Bartholomew

Article

Is There No Other Lean Exemplar Than Toyota?

"I believe that while Toyota isn’t the only lean exemplar out there," writes Michael Ballé, "it still gives us a flawless example of what lean…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Opportunity Lost?

President of Lean Institute Brasil, José Ferro, gives us the background situation on the World Cup and tells us about the problems and opportunities it…

Article

What should I know about lean management that I won’t find in books?

Dear Gemba Coach: I’m new to lean and reading all I can find about it, but is there something specific I need to look out…

by Michael Ballé

Article

What personal qualities should I work on to improve my practice of lean?

Dear Gemba Coach: What personal qualities should I work on to improve how I practice lean?

by Michael Ballé

Article

3 Lessons Maersk Learned from Adopting Hoshin Kanri

Deploying hoshin kanri at Maersk was challenging, recounts Agne Nainyte, who shares the details of this work that helped the organization shift from firefighting to…

by Agne Nainyte

Article

Dear Professor, Am I Ever Glad You Covered Lean in Class!

Since 2008, the Lean Enterprise Institute has sponsored the Excellence in Lean Accounting Award to fund scholarships helping pairs of students and professors attend the…

by Chet Marchwinski

Article

Advice from the Gemba: How Do People Accidentally Make Change Unsustainable?

The only thing tougher than change is SUSTAINING change, we often hear. But does sustaining change need to be SO hard? Is it naturally and…

by Karen Gaudet, Lynn Kelley, David Verble and Brent Wahba

Video

Art of Lean on Work & Waste, Part 3: Excess Inventory

Take a closer look at the various types of inventory, with an eye toward identifying waste, with your guide, Art Smalley, president, Art of Lean,…

by Art Smalley

Article

Be a Better Coach: Learn to “Force” Your Team to Reflect, Part 1

Sustaining a lean thinking culture requires consistent leadership and coaching that reinforces expected behaviors and practices. Here’s an example of how to ensure your frontline…

by David Verble

Article

What Do Managers Do?

After walking the gemba with sensei Hideshi Yokoi, Matt Savas learned three basic agreements between workers and management, and shared his discovery that a production…

by Matthew Savas

Article

How to Make Your Supplier Your Lean Partner

Lean practitioner Randy Dobbs says working with suppliers to improve the extended value stream of his company has been one of the most rewarding aspects…

by Randy J. Dobbs

Article

Book Review: The Toyota Engagement Equation by Tracey and Ernie Richardson

In their book The Toyota Engagement Equation, authors Tracey and Ernie Richardson don’t hit you over the head telling you what to do or how…

by Tom Ehrenfeld

Faculty

David Graham

David’s lean knowledge came from 17 years with the North American Parts Operations Division of Toyota, where he applied lean concepts to the launch of…

Article

Ask Art: Why Switch from Batch to Lean?

Switching from batch production to a complete lean enterprise produces benefits far beyond immediate financial results, argues Art Byrne. Read this for details on your…

by Art Byrne

Article

What would a lean transformation mean for the IT Department? What benefits would it create for the company?

Dear Gemba Coach: We’ve asked our IT department to be involved in kaizen events several times, but it is always very slow to deliver on…

by Michael Ballé