August 2008 | Page 2 of 2

Do you Use VSM Software?

By Ron Pereira - August 13th, 2008

There are at least two schools of thought related to the use of software when drawing value stream maps. Some lean purists claim the use of value stream mapping software is heretical while others have no problem with it. My Opinion My

The Wedge is the Simplest of Tools

By Jon Miller - August 12th, 2008

The wedge is the simplest of tools. A wedge has a flat end and a pointy end. A wedge converts a blunt, general force into a sharp, narrowly focused force. A wedge is very effective at separating things, breaking things apart or dividin

The Hard Sell for Cells

By Jon Miller - August 10th, 2008

On a few occasions lately I’ve had to make the hard sell for cells. Typically when teaching people how to implement TPS we show more than tell. The learning by doing helps people take ownership of the decision to make a significa

Oh Noes! Boeing Haz Supply Chain Woes?

By Jon Miller - August 8th, 2008

Laughter is good for us, even though sometimes we laugh because of pathos more than humor. So it is with news that Lack of Seats, Galleys Delays Boeing, Airbus from today’s Wall Street Journal. Airbus and Boeing Co. have both str

Learning from Things that Didn’t Work

By Jon Miller - August 5th, 2008

One of the common objections we hear to doing kaizen is that “We’ve tried it before and it didn’t work,” as if past failures were ever a reason for not trying again. Experience is a good teacher only if we step

Must Read Article about Top Toyota Engineer

By Ron Pereira - August 5th, 2008

If you don’t already read Jon Miller’s excellent blog you’ll want to pay a visit and read his most recent article “Toyota’s Top Engineer on How to Develop Thinking People.” The original article Jon r

Toyota’s Top Engineer on How to Develop Thinking People

By Jon Miller - August 4th, 2008

The August 4, 2008 Nikkei Business Online article titled Top Engineer Explains How Toyota Develops People (技術最高職が語る「トヨタはこう人を育てる」). The article is an interview with Nanpachi Hayashi, Toyota̵

Laundry Kaizen

By Ron Pereira - August 2nd, 2008

With my wife trying to focus on our newest family member I decided to do the laundry this past week. It’s been awhile since I’ve done the laundry and some things have definitely changed. Before Kaizen Before, what I’m calling

Month: August 2008