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Mutual Assistance Teamwork
Toshiko Narusawa, co-author with John Shook of Kaizen Express, illustrates Taiichi Ohno’s comparison of workplace teamwork to passing a baton.…
Read article Do We Need a Truck Preparation Area?
Dear Gemba Coach: As logistics manager, I disagree with our lean expert who insists we should have “truck preparation areas”…
Read article How Does Pull Relate to Problem-Solving?
Dear Gemba Coach: I’ve been following the exchanges on The Lean Edge with great interest, and all the lean authors…
Read article How Can One Be A Better Sensei?
Dear Gemba Coach,Our operations VP is disappointed with our lean program. Despite his close personal involvement with the program, it…
Read article The Joy of a Greenfield
Last spring on a trip to Central America, I encountered that wonderful sight for process improvers, a “greenfield”. And I…
Read article How Do I Clarify Lean Roles and Responsibilities?
Dear Gemba Coach: Can you provide some guidance on splitting roles and responsibilities amongst the various hands-on leaders of the lean…
Read article Standardized Work in Business Processes
Dear Gemba Coach: How about standardized work in a business process environment? For example, in a procurement process or supply chain…
Read article Standardized Work in Machine-Intensive Processes
Dear Gemba Coach,Most lean literature and case studies to date focus on assembly type manufacturing which utilizes very people-intensive operations.…
Read article Making People Before Making Products
Dear Gemba Coach: I keep hearing about “making people before making products” but I have a hard time visualizing what this…
Read article Lean Leap by Auto Supplier Gets Boost from Leaping Figure Skaters
As part of its lean transformation, a Nexteer Automotive plant in Saginaw, MI, is using video and motion analysis software…
Read article Example A3: Acme Stamping – Project Status Review (from Managing to Learn)
An example of an A3 from the book Understanding A3 Thinking by Durward K. Sobek II and Art Smalley, included…
Read article Example A3: Lean Institute Brasil – Summit Sessions (from Managing to Learn)
An example of an A3 from Lean Institute Brasil, developed during attendance at the Managing to Learn workshop, included as…
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