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Genchi Genbutsu: Don’t Talk to the Inmates, Part 6

by Pete Abilla on July 23, 2010

I write that title with tongue-in-cheek. But, in some cases, corporate leaders act as if employees are inmates and being seen with and talking with them is not good. This idea runs completely counter to the principle and practice of Genchi Genbutsu. We finalized the adoption of our baby girl recently. Our 9th child – yes [...]

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Genchi Genbutsu: Go and See, Part 5

by Pete Abilla on July 22, 2010

The final aspect of Genchi Genbutsu I’d like to discuss is how it helps us accomplish the following: Genchi Genbutsu helps us to develop other people. Involving people in understanding the problem and at arriving at solutions is a powerful countermeasure to resistance; it is disarming; it is a wonderful way to teach others, to [...]

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Dear Mass Market: Promoter or Detractor

by Pete Abilla on July 21, 2010

I received an email recently from Qwest Communications requesting that I complete a survey. I read the email, then the signature had the executive’s name, which caught my eye: Dan Yost Executive Vice President Mass Markets Is that what I’ve become? A Mass Market?  Does Qwest really call their customers “Mass Market”? Here’s that email: [...]

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Shoulders of Giants: The Automatic Loom

by Pete Abilla on July 20, 2010

We stand on the shoulders of giants. In other words, what we enjoy today – by and large – come from those that came before us. So, today I’m starting a new series I’m calling “Shoulders of Giants” to signify the gratitude we can show to those that have greatly influenced our current practice of [...]

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Visual Management: Lawn Mower Maintenance

by Pete Abilla on July 19, 2010

lowe's visual design

While shopping at Lowe’s, I saw this nice visual management with the aim of answering two questions about lawn mower maintenance: What should I maintain? When should I maintain it? The chart is nice because it shows on one page the answer to both questions above; this is nice, especially for people with a poor [...]

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Lean Culture is about “How”

by Pete Abilla on July 18, 2010

The Lean subculture talks about the tools of lean, often ignoring principle behind the tool, method, or practice. Another item that is often ignored is “How” things are carried out in an organization where true lean has taken hold. The debate between “true” and “fake” lean is a tough one to have and is difficult [...]

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The Seven Wastes of Human Resources (HR)

by Pete Abilla on July 17, 2010

Pete’s Note: I’m pleased to have Jim Baran provide a guest post for us today on the Seven Wastes of Human Resources – in other words, within the Human Resources system, what and where and how does waste look like? Enjoy his article below and more about Jim Baran at the jump. Lean is a [...]

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Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Output, Customers (SIPOC)

by Pete Abilla on July 17, 2010

sipoc for service operations

A SIPOC is a high level process map that includes Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Output, and Customers. Here’s presupposition: Quality is judged based on the output of a process. The quality is improved by analyzing inputs and process variables. How To Create a SIPOC Diagram Create an area that will allow the team to post additions [...]

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