Article

Frontiers of Lean

It is eighteen years since the first western firm, Danaher in the USA, began its lean journey guided by disciples of Taiichi Ohno, the architect…

by Dan Jones

Article

Lesson From Japan: Day Five

On this final set of shared lessons from Japan, our lean learners reflect on the spirit of kaizen and the notion of employees as assets.…

by Lean Leaper

Podcast

5 Guiding Principles for Tailoring a Path to Lean Transformation

Learn from top healthcare leaders who are transforming their organizations through lean thinking and practice.

by Lean Enterprise Institute

Article

Tapping Technology to Boost the Power of Lean: A Talk with Jeff Liker and Jim Morgan

What principles should guide lean thinkers as they introduce digital tools into their work? How about people, processes, and purpose, say Jeff Liker and Jim…

by Lean Leaper

Article

Leaning Your Boss

What do top managers need to learn to be able to lead a lean transformation? I get asked this question frequently. The answer is the…

by Dan Jones

Article

Asking Questions

It is always refreshing going to the gemba – actually walking a value stream all the way through an organisation. This is where I learn…

by Dan Jones

Article

Shopping for a Sensei

We at LEI have been getting a lot of requests recently to help companies find lean expertise for harder times. Here are some simple guidelines…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

Learning the Hard and Soft Skills of Lean Coaching

While lean is often associated with process improvement, error reduction, and greater efficiency in a wide range of numbers; most veterans argue that above all…

by Lean Leaper

Article

Japanese Cult Invades Saskatchewan Government

Lean has become a political football in the normally congenial province of Saskatchewan. Read what John Shook has to say about the matter.

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

Article

Lean Healthcare Lessons and Preparing for Change

Develop capabilities by asking the right questions

Article

Kata Konfusion

Author and LEI faculty member Drew Locher explains why it is important when using the kata improvement methodology to not focus solely on key performance…

by Chet Marchwinski

Article

Isn’t PDCA enough? Why do we always need to complicate things?

Dear Gemba Coach: Isn’t PDCA enough? Why do we always need to complicate things?

by Michael Ballé

Video

Leadership Lessons from Rivian: a Clip from WLEI

In a clip from one of our most popular podcasts, LEI President Josh Howell talks with electric car manufacturer Rivian's CEO RJ Scaringe and Jim…

by Lean Leaper

Case Study

Meeting Strategic Objectives

Turner Construction uses hoshin kanri (strategy deployment) and A3 problem-solving to create a management system that ensures it achieves its strategic business objectives.

by Patricia Panchak

Article

Ask Art: What Is the Biggest Cultural Change Barrier to Lean?

Art Byrne tackles the biggest cultural barrier to adopting lean practices in companies: the resistance of CEOs and senior management.

by Art Byrne

Article

Chief Engineer: the Ultimate Working Together Leadership Role

Discover why the chief engineer role is the pinnacle of leadership in product development, demanding exceptional communication, vision, and the ability to inspire diverse teams…

by James Morgan, PhD

Article

We Have Been (Lean) Thinking

In the many years since we launched Lean Thinking, events amply confirm our long-held view that managers will try anything easy that doesnít work before…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

Real Leaders Think and Act Differently

Are your management routines and Gemba Walks suffering from the superficial observations of the day-tripper? Or are your leaders adding real value to your employees,…

by Darren Walsh

Article

Governance Matters

"The very term “governance” seems somewhat antithetical to lean," writes Mark Hamel. "Yet...over my 20-plus years of lean learning, I’ve witnessed a lot of implementation…

by Mark Hamel