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  • Why Eliminating Waste Alone Doesn’t Work: Understanding Muda, Muri, and Mura

    Why Eliminating Waste Alone Doesn’t Work: Understanding Muda, Muri, and Mura0

      One of the most common frustrations in continuous improvement is this: teams invest significant time and energy eliminating waste, only to see the same problems return weeks or months later. Inventory creeps back. Lead times stretch. Firefighting resumes. The issue is not a lack of effort or commitment. The issue is focus. Most Lean

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  • Practicing Respect & Developing Mutual Trust

    Practicing Respect & Developing Mutual Trust0

      The “Respect for People” pillar in Lean philosophy, originating from Toyota, is foundational, emphasizing that mutual trust and respect for every individual drives continuous improvement, better results, and a strong culture, moving beyond just politeness to actively developing, empowering, and aligning everyone to solve problems, grow professionally, and contribute their best ideas. Without trust,

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  • Lean Quote: April Showers Brings May Flowers

    Lean Quote: April Showers Brings May Flowers0

    On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on

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  • 5 Keys to Leveraging Your Time: Applying Lean Thinking to Maximize Impact

    5 Keys to Leveraging Your Time: Applying Lean Thinking to Maximize Impact0

      Time is our most precious and limited resource. In business, every minute counts—not just in hours on the clock, but in the value created within those hours. Lean thinking teaches us to focus on what matters most: eliminating waste, maximizing value, and continuously improving processes. When we apply these principles to how we use

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  • 5 Productivity Tasks You Can Do Every Day

    5 Productivity Tasks You Can Do Every Day0

      In manufacturing, productivity is often measured by throughput, quality, and efficiency. But behind every successful process are productive people—leaders and team members who manage their time, attention, and energy with intention. Lean teaches us that continuous improvement isn’t just about machines and materials—it’s about habits and behaviors. By applying Lean thinking to our personal

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  • Lean Quote: Vision, Challenge, and Perseverance

    Lean Quote: Vision, Challenge, and Perseverance0

    On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on

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  • Lean Tips Edition #323 (#3976- #3990)

    Lean Tips Edition #323 (#3976- #3990)0

    For my Facebook fans you already know about this great feature. But for those of you that are not connected to A Lean Journey on Facebook or Twitter I post daily a feature I call Lean Tips.  It is meant to be advice, things I learned from experience, and some knowledge tidbits about Lean to help you along your journey.  Another

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  • Lean Roundup #202 – March 2026

    Lean Roundup #202 – March 20260

      A selection of highlighted blog posts from Lean bloggers from the month of March 2026.  You can also view the previous monthly Lean Roundups here.   Lean Failure and Recovery – Andy Carlino shares his top causes of failure and what you can do to recover. Strategy is Imagination – Making Strategy Fun Again – Pascal

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  • Lean Quote: Systems, Not Blame: Designing for the Results You Want

    Lean Quote: Systems, Not Blame: Designing for the Results You Want0

    On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on

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  • 8 Lessons for Sustaining Excellence

    8 Lessons for Sustaining Excellence0

        Excellence is not a one-time achievement—it’s a habit, a culture, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. Many organizations can reach a level of success, but sustaining excellence over time requires discipline, focus, and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. In Lean thinking, excellence is not a destination but a journey that never ends.

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Tim McMahon

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About Tim McMahon

Tim McMahon is a Lean implementation leader, author, and blogger. As a Lean practitioner, Tim brings more 25 years of leadership experience implementing Lean manufacturing. Trained by disciples of the Toyota Production System, he worked in a Shingo Prize winning facility.

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