Gemba Academy

Process Improvement Across Industries

By John Knotts - March 15th, 2024

In the realm of business and organizational efficiency, understanding the nuances of process improvement across various industries is not merely an exercise in intellectual curiosity but a necessity. With 34 years of experience in this

Understanding the Customer Experience is a Keystone in Process Improvement

By John Knotts - February 16th, 2024

In the realm of business, the adage “the customer is always right” has evolved into a more nuanced understanding that “the customer’s experience is paramount.” As we dive deeper into the intricacies of cus

The Power of Perception: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

By Ron Pereira - January 30th, 2024

We’ve all been there – facing those challenging, frustrating, or just plain uncertain moments in our personal and professional lives. Whether it’s a project or kaizen event going awry, a difficult conversation with your a

Embracing System-Level Problem Solving over Firefighting

By John Knotts - January 19th, 2024

In the dynamic landscape of business and organizational management, problem-solving is often equated with ad hoc firefighting – a reactive approach where individuals scramble to douse the flames of immediate issues. While this method

Thinking in Bets: Embracing Uncertainty and Probabilistic Thinking

By Ron Pereira - January 17th, 2024

I just finished an interesting book titled “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions when you Don’t have all the Facts” by Annie Duke, a world champion poker player. There are lots of parallels to Scientific Thinkin

Harmonizing Organizational Excellence: A Fusion of Agile, Deming, and Toyota Principles

By Steve Kane - November 24th, 2023

In the quest for organizational excellence, many companies turn to established frameworks and philosophies to guide their journey. Among the prominent ones are the Agile Manifesto, Deming’s 14 Principles, and the Toyota Productio

Is Process Improvement Certification Right For Me?

By John Knotts - November 17th, 2023

Embarking on a journey of process improvement often leads to the crossroads of certification. Is obtaining a process improvement certification the correct path for you? This question resonates with many professionals who are eager to e

Improving Coaching Skills in the Workplace

By Steve Kane - October 27th, 2023

Coaching skills are critical for managers and leaders in today’s business environment. Effective coaching drives team performance, improves employee satisfaction, and contributes to a company’s success. If you’re look

Robot humanoid using tablet computer for global network connection

Harnessing AI Large Language Models for Process Improvement

By John Knotts - October 20th, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s lips these days. In the realm of AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) are emerging as pivotal tools capable of understanding and generating human-like text. However, the capability extends fa

Are You Seeing Green?

By John Knotts - September 22nd, 2023

A “Green Process,” in the context of business and manufacturing, refers to a method or strategy that is designed to have a minimal negative impact on the environment. This can encompass a wide range of efforts aimed at redu

Completing A Kaizen Event is the Beginning, Not the End of an Improvement

By Steve Kane - September 22nd, 2023

In the world of business, the term “Kaizen” has garnered attention for its transformative power. Originating from Japan, Kaizen means “change for better,” emphasizing continuous improvement. Many organizations a

Implementing 5S in Your Company

By John Knotts - August 18th, 2023

In an era where business competition is fierce, having a streamlined operation can give you a significant edge. One effective strategy to achieve operational efficiency is the 5S methodology. But how do you know if your company needs 5

Conducting A Manual Process Assessment

By John Knotts - July 21st, 2023

A manual process is a task or procedure that is performed without the assistance of automation or technology. These tasks typically require human effort, physical actions, and direct input. Manual processes can range from simple tasks,

The Power of Creativity in Process Improvement Projects

By John Knotts - June 16th, 2023

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve their processes to stay ahead of the curve. While traditional process improvement methodologies play a crucial role,

How Context Switching Affects Problem-Solving

By Steve Kane - May 26th, 2023

In today’s fast-paced world, our minds are continuously challenged by multiple tasks and competing priorities. While multitasking has become a norm, it has a detrimental effect on problem-solving abilities. Context switching, the

Maximizing Efficiency with Warehouse Control

By John Knotts - May 19th, 2023

In today’s fast-paced business world, effective warehouse management is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. A well-organized and controlled warehouse can significantly impact overall operational efficiency, customer satis

Eight Tips for Managing Up

By Steve Kane - April 28th, 2023

Managing up is an essential skill that can help you succeed in a rapidly changing environment. As businesses and organizations continue to evolve and adapt to new challenges, it’s critical to develop strategies to effectively com

5S and Spring Cleaning

By John Knotts - April 21st, 2023

What better time than now to talk to you about spring cleaning and 5S? Now, you may be wondering what exactly 5S is, and how it relates to spring cleaning. Well, let me explain. 5S is a methodology used in manufacturing and other indus

Are You Ready for Change?

By Steve Kane - March 24th, 2023

Continuous improvement is a key strategy for businesses to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment. It is a process of making incremental changes to a company’s operations, processes, and produc

Finding Process Improvement Opportunities

By John Knotts - March 17th, 2023

Large organizations that employ process improvement departments and teams often have a list of process improvement projects (typically called the “1 to n list”). These potential projects are prioritized, and practitioners simply ha

The Pearls and Turds of Continuous Improvement

By Kevin Meyer - March 3rd, 2023

My wife and I watched the documentary Stutz for the third or fourth time last weekend. It’s a unique story that always provides something new each time we watch it. The movie features actor Jonah Hill interviewing his therapist P

The Six Types of Working Genius: What Makes for a Great Team & Marriage!

By Ron Pereira - February 27th, 2023

Patrick Lencioni, the author of the best-selling book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” has introduced a new concept called the Six Types of Working Genius in the book by the same title. I recently learned about these diff

Conducting Engaging Virtual Meetings

By John Knotts - February 17th, 2023

In process improvement, it is always best to involve a team. This helps get different points of view and perspectives on a problem. Also, having a team means that you have more people to help you do the work — especially when it

Building Habits to Support Lean Initiatives: A Guide for Business Leaders

By Ron Pereira - January 31st, 2023

In the world of lean and six sigma, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on the importance of habits and processes. After all, a company’s success depends on the collective actions and habits of its employees. Here are some tip

Measuring The Pig In The Python

By John Knotts - January 20th, 2023

Data collection and analysis are critical in process improvement. Data shows progress in process improvement over time and serves as a barometer of process effectiveness and efficiency. Measuring a straightforward process that takes se

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