Archive for May, 2009
The Source of Dirt
In Amazon’s 2008 letter to shareholders, Jeff Bezos shares about a Kaizen event he participated in:
At a fulfillment center recently, one of our Kaizen experts asked me, “I’m in favor of a clean fulfillment center, but why are you cleaning? Why don’t you eliminate the source of dirt?”
I’ve spoken numerous times about Bezos on Lean Thinking, some of which are here, here, here and here but there are many more — just browse shmula.
In Amazon’s 2008 letter to shareholders, Jeff Bezos shares about a Kaizen event he participated in:
At a fulfillment center recently, one of our Kaizen experts asked me, “I’m in favor of a clean fulfillment center, but why are you cleaning? Why don’t you eliminate the source of dirt?”
I’ve spoken numerous times about Bezos on Lean Thinking, some of which are here, here, here and here but there are many more — just browse shmula.
Total Company Involvement
Most vision or mission statements are hollow, uninspirational artifacts. Sloganeering, as it were: they sound good, but fail to mobilize a team or company. To illustrate my point, let me share a great story — the opposite of what I have just described: The NASA Janitor.
This story, I’m sure, is part legend, part folklore, part false, and part truth. Nevertheless, the spirit of the message is clear and correct:
Most vision or mission statements are hollow, uninspirational artifacts. Sloganeering, as it were: they sound good, but fail to mobilize a team or company. To illustrate my point, let me share a great story — the opposite of what I have just described: The NASA Janitor.
This story, I’m sure, is part legend, part folklore, part false, and part truth. Nevertheless, the spirit of the message is clear and correct:
