Archive for Kaizen
Using A3 to introduce Lean – Dr. Balle Video
Posted by: | CommentsLean technology has now evolved from the manufacturing floor to the whole enterprise. Many companies have found real value in applying the fundamental concepts of Lean throughout the organization. The lean concepts of Kaizen, PDCA and the tools such as Pareto Charts, 5 Why’s and even Poka Yoke are commonplace.
As a result of discussing a Lean Enterprise with Dr. Michael Balle, I asked him about his thoughts on Introducing PDCA or A3 to services is it feasible?
Dr. Michael Ballé is a business researcher and consultant and has studied lean transformation for the past 15 years. He is Associate Researcher at Télécom Paris Tech and the co-founder of the French Lean Institute (www.institut-lean-france.fr) and the Project Lean Enterprise (www.lean.enst.fr). He coaches CEOs and senior executives in using lean to radically improve their businesses’ performances and establish lean cultures.
Dr. Balle is also a Shingo Prize winner as an author of the The Gold Mine
Related Information:
Lean Sales and Marketing PDF
PDCA for Lean Marketing, Knowledge Creation
Has Knowledge Management disguised itself as Lean Marketing?
PDCA for Lean Marketing, Knowledge Creation
PDCA, Kaizen & Culture in a Lean Enterprise
Posted by: | CommentsLean technology has now evolved from the manufacturing floor to the whole enterprise. Many companies have found real value in applying the fundamental concepts of Lean throughout the organization. The lean concepts of Kaizen, PDCA and the tools such as Pareto Charts, 5 Why’s and even Poka Yoke are commonplace.
As a result of discussing a Lean Enterprise with Dr. Michael Balle, I asked him about his thoughts on the culture of Lean.
Dr. Balle is also a Shingo Prize winner as an author of the The Gold Mine
Dr. Michael Balle is the Gemba Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute
Related Information:
Lean Thinking Perspectives from Dr. Michael Balle
A Gemba Talk with Womack on Lean
Continuously Improving thru PDCA eBook
Power of Check = The Pivot in PDCA
Lean is not a revolution, Lean is solve one thing and prove one thing!
Posted by: | CommentsAs Dr. Balle said, “Toyota didn’t become number one by having lower manufacturing costs, they became number one by making cars people bought.”
Excerpt from the Transcription of the Business901 Podcast, Outside the Walls of a Lean Enterprise:
Joe: Before you start can you define Kaizen? Are you defining Kaizen as just continuous improvement?
Michael: Kaizen has two aspects. One aspect is problem solving, which means every production cell should work at a certain level of standard. Everything should work at a certain level. Then, because the environment changes all the time, the machinery runs down, the customer changes their mind. You know, something happens. So, we’re not at that level. We have to do is to fight very hard every day to stay at that level although the environment has changed.
The second part of Kaizen is, once you are at that level, how do you push the limit? How do you move beyond? How do you have the number of quality problems you have? How do you do the same volume work with one person less on the team in the process, but not with working harder? How do you work safer? That would be the second element of Kaizen. So one is just holding to the standards no matter what the world throws at you. The second time is once you hold your standard, how do you push yourself to actually improve the standard? That would be Kaizen, and Kaizen in terms of small, practical steps.
This is not a revolution, this is solve one thing and prove one thing. This is not turning everything around.
Outside the Walls of a Lean Enterprise
Audio Version: Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround
The audiobook features performances by multiple readers who bring its realistic business story and characters to life. You’ll hear from:
Related Information:
Dr. Michael Balle is the Gemba Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute
Lean Thinking Perspectives from Dr. Michael Balle
Lean Coaching & Learning with Jeff Liker
Developing a Kaizen Spirit
Developing a Kaizen Conscious with Shingo Prize winner Michael Balle
