About

My name is Pete Abilla. This blog is my take on technology, business, operations, The Toyota Production System / Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Queueing Theory, operations research, building software, the customer experience (especially ethnography and design thinking and word-of-mouth marketing), and you’ll see bits of family stuff too.

This blog is a personal blog. Despite that fact, the articles on this personal blog have been quoted by the Asian Development Bank, CIO.com, PCMAG.com, Harvard Business Review, Internet Retailer, & have been used at leading business schools such as The Harvard Business School, The University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business and Carnegie Mellon University.

I started this blog on March 26, 2006 mainly as a hobby and as an outlet for my overly-busy mind. Over time, it has thankfully turned into a well-visited hub consisting of a healthy community of like-minded people. Thanks for reading, contributing, and for your attention. I appreciate you visiting shmula.com — thank you.

For more on my professional background, please visit my Consulting Page, thank you.

Disclosures & Legalese
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Please take everything I say with a grain of salt. Content published here is not read or approved by anybody and does not represent anyone else’s views but my own. No warranties or other guarantees will be offered as to the quality of the opinions or anything else offered here.

I DO NOT speak for my employer or for anybody, other than myself. If you cite what I write and claim that it is an official statement, you are knowingly misleading your audience.

Unsolicited Free Stuff
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I get free stuff from companies. In the spirit of transparency, below are some of the gifts I’ve received:

The folks at MIT Sloan Management Review (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) send me several unsolicited complimentary copies of their outstanding magazine. Thanks MIT.
The Lean Enterprise Institute has sent me many wonderful books and material on Lean Manufacturing, Leadership, and other products related to business and operational excellence. Much thanks to the folks at Lean Enterprise Institute.
Jeff Hajek from Velaction Continuous Improvement, contacted me and sent me a complimentary copy of his book, Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean? Thanks, Jeff.
I received an unsolicited free box of Non-Drowsy Children’s Claritin Grape Chewables in March 2009 — thanks Claritin!
Chili’s Grill & Bar kindly sent me 4 Free Dinner coupons. Thanks Chili’s Grill & Bar!
On a monthly basis, Wiley Publishing sends me books related to Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and on Customer-specific topics. I am under no obligation to read or review these books, but it’s awfully nice of them to do that. So, if I like a particular book, then I’ll probably write a blog post about it.
In the past, IBM Press has sent me books related to Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Agile and Lean for Software, and on The Theory of Constraints. I am under no obligation to read or review the books they send me, but it’s awfully nice of them to do that. So, if I like a particular book, then I’ll probably write a blog post about it.
Out of the blue, Sonicare sent me a very fancy electric toothbrush. I believe the retail value of this device is ~$60USD. I like it and has kept my teeth clean. I am still not sure why they sent me one. Maybe they know something about my teeth that I don’t know.
Grey Poupon mustard sent me a variety pack of fancy mustard. I’m not a big mustard guy, but that sure was nice. I endorse Grey Poupon even though I don’t like mustard. Their brand is respectable and the mustard is fancy. I like them. Again, I really don’t know why they sent me unsolicited mustard
Forest W. Breyfogle III: I’ve received a number of free books from him and his publicist.
- Implementing Six Sigma: This is actually a pretty good book. I recommend you check it out.
- The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System: An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement
- The Basics: Golfing Buddies Go Beyond Lean Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard
Advantus Corporation sent me, out of the blue, a 9×4 People Finder Cubicle Sign.
J. Ross Publishing graciously sent me several books to review:
- Six Sigma Best Practices, by Dhirendra Kumar, Ph.D.
- Lean Cost Management, by James R. Huntzinger
- Lean Materials Planning and Execution, A Guide to Internal and External Supply Management Excellence, by Donald H. Sheldon
- Viable Vision, Transforming Total Sales into Net Profits, by Gerald I. Kendall
- Lean Six Sigma Logistics, Strategic Development to Operational Success, by Dr. Thomas Goldsby and Robert Martichenko
- Lean Manufacturing Implementation, A Complete Execution Manual for Any Size Manufacturer, by Dennis P. Hobbs, CPIM
Goal QPC sent me:
- The Six Sigma Memory Jogger II
Wiley Publishing sent me:
- Extreme Toyota, Radical Contradictions That Drive Success at the World’s Best Manufacturer, by Emi Osono, Norihiko Shimuzu, & Hirotaka Takeuchi

I love free stuff, so please don’t hesitate to contact me and send things my way. Who knows, I might be able to create some good word-of-mouth for your product.