Posts tagged as:

genchi genbutsu

Blendtec: Genchi Genbutsu and Visual Management

by Pete Abilla August 18, 2010

We went to Costco last weekend and there was a demonstration for Blendtec Blender – you know, those Blendtec “Will it Blend” viral videos on YouTube with that white-coat crazy scientist Blendtec founder blending everything from brooms to the iPhone. As a side-note: I met the founder and CEO of Blendtec, Tom Dickson, about 12 [...]

3 comments continue reading

Before Checking Email, Go To The Gemba

by Pete Abilla July 30, 2010
This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Personal Improvement

At work, before you do anything else, go see your customer (internal or external), go see your team or staff – see how they are doing, go see and spend time where the work is done. Guess who benefits the most when you do this? That’s right, you. By practicing “go and see” (genchi genbutsu) [...]

0 comments continue reading

Solution in Search of a Problem

by Pete Abilla July 26, 2010

Most view innovation a big bang type of exercise – or an “aha” moment that came out of nowhere. Indeed, cogito ergo sum – an invention akin to “out nothing, something”. A look back in history will tell us that this notion is completely false. In fact, looking at the components of the iPhone, you’ll [...]

1 comment continue reading

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

by Pete Abilla 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 [...]

0 comments continue reading

Genchi Genbutsu: Go and See, Part 5

by Pete Abilla July 22, 2010
This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series genchi genbutsu

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 [...]

0 comments continue reading

Genchi Genbutsu: Go and See, Part 4

by Pete Abilla July 16, 2010
This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series genchi genbutsu

When we make decisions, cast judgments, or form an opinion without having observed, talked with, or experienced the situation first hand, it leads to poor decisions. In this article on Genchi Genbutsu, I’ll discuss the following aspect of Genchi Genbutsu: Genchi Genbutsu helps us develop empathy: “Go and See” helps us link high-level thinking with [...]

1 comment continue reading

Genchi Genbutsu: Go and See, Part 3

by Pete Abilla July 15, 2010
This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series genchi genbutsu

In general, most conflict is based on different perspectives. In  business, this means that people see the problem differently. Because people don’t understand the problem the same way, there are arguments and disagreements on the solution. Have you ever experienced this? Genchi Genbutsu counteracts the situation above by the following: Genchi Genbutsu helps to gain [...]

0 comments continue reading

Safety, Quality, Genchi Genbutsu

by Pete Abilla July 8, 2010

Kristen Tabar, General Manager, Electronic Systems at the Toyota Technical Center is taking a number of press, analyst, and automotive reporters on a week long behind the scenes tour of Toyota and their efforts toward safer and higher quality vehicles. In her words, One of the great guiding traditions here at Toyota is “genchi genbutsu”, [...]

0 comments continue reading

Genchi Genbutsu: Go and See, Part 2

by Pete Abilla June 26, 2010
This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series genchi genbutsu

Being abstracted from the real thing leads to poor decisions. As leaders, we lead, we teach, and we make decisions. But in doing so, we need help to sharpen our judgment so that we can learn to make better decisions. The first aspect I outlined in my first article on Genchi Genbutsu is that: Genchi [...]

1 comment continue reading

1 of 212