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Make Failure Acceptable0
- Lean Management
- September 13, 2009
I visited a plant recently that was struggling to implement Lean. This plant was having difficulty keeping up with the customer demand. They were operating like a traditional push factory producing large batches utilizing all available resources. What you observed was lots of material and product on the factory floor not moving, poorly utilized process,
READ MORECreative Safety Supply0
- Lean Resources
- September 10, 2009
Along your Lean Journey it is helpful to have resources at your disposal to aid in your transformation. Mike Wilson, a reader of A Lean Journey, wanted to share his company with others in the Lean community as a resource. Creative Safety Supply specializes in Facility Floor Marking, Aisle Marking, 5S Products, and Ergonomic Solutions.
READ MOREAvery Dennison Shares Thoughts on Lean0
- Lean in Practice
- September 7, 2009
Some of you may be familiar with Avery Dennison. I have been fortunate to visit a couple of their facilities looking at their Lean implementation over the years. For those of you who are not familiar with them you can find a brief description below: Avery Dennison is a global leader in pressure-sensitive technology, retail
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Are We Investing Wisely for Our Economic Future?0
- In the News
- September 3, 2009
Some recent data suggests that the U.S. lags in the global race to invest in production technology and research. Since this economic downturn has taken profits away it is not surprising that companies are not investing as much. Many companies are focused on reorganizing and rebalancing to a newer lower revenue. With all this excess
READ MORELean Accounting at Watlow Electric0
- Lean Management, Sharing Best Practices
- September 1, 2009
Many organizations are having success implementing Lean practices but very few have accepted lean accounting. Orry Fiume, who led The Wiremold Company conversion to lean accounting in the early 1990’s before retiring, now spends time sharing the virtues of lean accounting at the Lean Enterprise Institute. Fiume shows how a standard cost-based P&L statement penalizes
READ MOREModern Machine Shop Online & the Most Valuable Lean Resource for Success0
- In the News, Lean Basics, Lean Resources, Sharing Best Practices
- August 28, 2009
Modern Machine Shop is a metalworking professionals’ publication that aims to improve and expand manufacturing by connecting the buyers and sellers of metalworking technology. They recently launched a Lean Manufacturing Zone. MMS Online’s newly expanded Lean Manufacturing Zone includes both articles and video profiles about machining facilities that are succeeding at lean. Other resources in
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Good Urgency vs Bad Urgency0
- Lean Management
- August 25, 2009
The challenge for many leaders of continuous improvement is two fold. First, you must inspire the desire or enthusiasm necessary to change. Second, you must harness this energy in the right direction. To make this change real and combat complacency, the death of many an organization, leaders seek to create a sense of urgency. John
READ MOREThe Eight Wastes of NPD0
- Lean Management
- August 24, 2009
I am one of those people who believe that there is truly only one reason companies should implement Lean teachings and that is to grow your business. Many may think that there are other reasons but as Eliyahu Goldratt wrote in “The Goal”, the objective is to “make money now and in the future”. There
READ MOREDraw a Pig to Learn the Importance of Standard Work0
- Exercises/Games, Lean Basics
- August 21, 2009
So you might ask what does standard work and drawing a pig have in common. Well, the activity of drawing a pig can be used to teach the importance of standardized work. I learned of this activity a number of years ago during a standard work seminar. It was described in the AME Target Magazine
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