Continuous Improvement In Manufacturing

April 1, 2015 by Dan Clark

6 min read Continuous improvement can make a process better, improve safety and save dollars. But it’s a waste of time if the customer doesn’t like the end result. How will the customer benefit? That’s the first question a company must ask itself before implementing a continuous improvement program. Dan Clark interviews Tony Ferraro about the practicality of Six Sigma, 5S, kaizen and lean in the world of manufacturing and industry. Tony writes a blog for Creative Safety …

Respect For People And A3

March 3, 2015 by Dan Clark

16 min read Respect For People is a crucial part of lean and A3. Lean guru Bill Greider tells how A3 teams can implement continuous improvement in an organization. Bill heads P4 Lean Strategy Consulting, coaching companies on using A3 teams to eliminate accidents, increase production and rectify customer issues. The A3 exercise employs Respect For People, which originated with TPS (The Toyota Production System). A3 is a way to problem solve, named after a European paper standard …

Lean IT and Business

February 27, 2015 by Dan Clark

14 min read Lean IT expert Steve Bell helps solve the long-standing battle between a company’s goal of Continuous Improvement and the perceived lack of IT’s agility. It’s a constant friction between the boss wanting computer/network changes now, and IT wanting to slow down and do it right. Hear about Kaizen, and how IT departments are now considered strategic partners in business planning, due to so much online interaction with the public. Mac or PC? In this interview, …

Lean Success Stories

February 23, 2015 by Dan Clark

8 min read Lean success means increasing safety and efficiency. Yes, improve operations and save money simultaneously. Lean implementer Matt Wrye explains how. Matt is a lean expert, with a passion for continuous learning on all subjects related to business and lean. He is writer and publisher of the lean blog BeyondLean.WordPress.com. Matt has worked in multiple business positions, including HR, finance, engineering and operations to help them improve their processes. In this podcast, Matt gives examples from …

The Virtual Suggestion Box

February 23, 2015 by Dan Clark

20 min read The old suggestion box used to be a fair way for employees to offer ideas at their organization. However, over the years, it’s become a rusty, forgotten box with little hope of future use. In this podcast, Rich Kneece of The Massachusetts Technology Corporation tells about their product Vocoli, an application designed to accept employee input via computer or mobile device. The result is instant information which management can use to implement change faster. It’s …

Why Workers Resist Lean Culture

February 23, 2015 by Dan Clark

12 min read Why do workers resist lean culture? Lean methodology expert Karen Wilhelm explains why employees are often suspicious of lean, and how to get them on board. In this podcast, Ms. Wilhelm talks about a human behavior study done years ago by anthropologists led by Dr. Margaret Mead, and how this old study fit into Lean methodology at a business. Karen is a lifelong learner who specializes in Lean thinking. She has worked over 20 years …

Starting A Visual Workplace – Pt. 1

February 20, 2015 by Dan Clark

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14 min read Starting A Visual Workplace—improving efficiency with Visuality. Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth explains better work flow through visual devices. Dr. Galsworth defines the Visual Workplace as “A work environment that is self ordering, self explaining, self regulating and self improving where what is supposed to happen does happen on time, every time, day or night, because of visual devices.” She expands on this definition, and describes how Lean, 5S and Six Sigma can compliment the system set …

Starting Lean Six Sigma, Pt. 2

February 20, 2015 by Dan Clark

9 min read Starting Lean Six Sigma, Pt. 2 continues with Six Sigma Black Belt Chuck Hardy. Chuck tells of the value of a mentor. He offers advice on books to help anyone on their Lean / Six Sigma quest. Mr. Hardy also gives insight on 5S programs. Brandon Nys discusses Chuck’s history with Eastman Kodak and Lockheed Martin, and is now working for a non-profit, NMEDA, The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. In part 1, Chuck discussed …

Starting Lean Six Sigma, Pt. 1

February 20, 2015 by Dan Clark

13 min read Starting Lean Six Sigma with an expert. Chuck Hardy is a Black Belt in Six Sigma. Chuck tells of lean as a cultural thing. Brandon Nys and Kyle Holland interview Chuck about lean and Six Sigma systems. In this podcast, you’ll hear how workers and managers can include lean culture at home or at work, no matter what field they’re in. Chuck emphasizes the value of left and right brain thinkers into a lean culture, …

Lean Methodology In Healthcare

February 20, 2015 by Dan Clark

13 min read Lean Methodology In Healthcare — hear Mark Graban on 5S, Six Sigma, and “lean Sigma” in the medical world. Mark Graban is the CIO of KaiNexus, a technology and software company enabling continuous improvement in organizations. Brandon Nys talks with Mr. Graban about his experience as consultant, speaker and author on lean efficiencies in healthcare. Mark wrote the Shingo Award winning “Lean Hospitals,” plus other books, “Healthcare Kaizen” and “The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen.” …