Cost Savings for a Fortune 500 Company
Cummins Inc.1 reported their Q4 2009 earnings call today. In that call, they reported a cost savings of over $500MM due to their emphasis on Lean Thinking and Six Sigma. In the words of Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc:
Cummins Inc.1 reported their Q4 2009 earnings call today. In that call, they reported a cost savings of over $500MM due to their emphasis on Lean Thinking and Six Sigma. In the words of Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc:
Just Dial “0″ (”Zero”)
On the way to work this morning, a commercial on National Public Radio (NPR) caught my attention. It was a commercial for Ally Bank and one phrase piqued my interest (I’m paraphrasing):
To open an account, call xxx-xxx-xxxx and to talk to a real person, push “0″ anytime.
In the radio commercial, they emphasized “real person”. Interesting.
On the way to work this morning, a commercial on National Public Radio (NPR) caught my attention. It was a commercial for Ally Bank and one phrase piqued my interest (I’m paraphrasing):
To open an account, call xxx-xxx-xxxx and to talk to a real person, push “0″ anytime.
In the radio commercial, they emphasized “real person”. Interesting.
Freedom within Framework
A fence keeps us safe from harm – often, from harming ourselves and from harming others. In deployments of Lean Thinking at organizations, the principle of Freedom within Framework describes our approach well.
Disambiguating the Fence
A fence can be understood a few different ways:
- A Silo: A fence marks “mine” from “yours”. This is NOT what we are talking about.
A fence keeps us safe from harm – often, from harming ourselves and from harming others. In deployments of Lean Thinking at organizations, the principle of Freedom within Framework describes our approach well.
Disambiguating the Fence
A fence can be understood a few different ways:
- A Silo: A fence marks “mine” from “yours”. This is NOT what we are talking about.
In Their Natural Environment
I scheduled a meeting this week and a room for our meeting. During the course of our conversation, we began to discuss process and other items related to the their work. Gratefully, I had enough awareness to stop the conversation and we, as a team, walked out to the Gemba and continued our discussion there.
I scheduled a meeting this week and a room for our meeting. During the course of our conversation, we began to discuss process and other items related to the their work. Gratefully, I had enough awareness to stop the conversation and we, as a team, walked out to the Gemba and continued our discussion there.
Staring at Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
There is a Design Thinking opportunity to Emergency Room care. In my previous post, I discussed the time involved in waiting to receive care -queueing properties of ER care. What I didn’t discuss is the feeling and experience of the patient during care. That’s the topic for this post today.
There is a Design Thinking opportunity to Emergency Room care. In my previous post, I discussed the time involved in waiting to receive care -queueing properties of ER care. What I didn’t discuss is the feeling and experience of the patient during care. That’s the topic for this post today.
Emergency Room (ER) Wait Times
The Emergency Room plays a vital role in patient care and plays an important role in communities and society. According to the CDC, there were 119.2 million visits to the Emergency Room in 2007 1. Indeed, the demand for emergency room care is great.
The Emergency Room plays a vital role in patient care and plays an important role in communities and society. According to the CDC, there were 119.2 million visits to the Emergency Room in 2007 1. Indeed, the demand for emergency room care is great.
Lean Thinking and the Amazon Kindle
I receive emails from recruiters – frequently. So, as a favor to them, I am posting a job for your interest: the hiring company is Amazon.com.
Below is one job description and contact information, but if you go to the Amazon.com website, there are over 50 open positions looking for people with experience in Lean Thinking and Six Sigma.
I receive emails from recruiters – frequently. So, as a favor to them, I am posting a job for your interest: the hiring company is Amazon.com.
Below is one job description and contact information, but if you go to the Amazon.com website, there are over 50 open positions looking for people with experience in Lean Thinking and Six Sigma.
Shining Metal Pointing Direction
Hoshin Kanri is a management tool used at Toyota to align business strategy and mobilize the entire organization toward the business strategy. Hoshin Kanri means “Shining Metal, Pointing Direction” or “Directional Needle”. In other words, Hoshin Kanri is a North Star or a Compass.
Hoshin Kanri is a management tool used at Toyota to align business strategy and mobilize the entire organization toward the business strategy. Hoshin Kanri means “Shining Metal, Pointing Direction” or “Directional Needle”. In other words, Hoshin Kanri is a North Star or a Compass.
Why Transformation Efforts Fail
Transformation or Change efforts sometimes fail. In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail. While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts. Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.
Transformation or Change efforts sometimes fail. In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail. While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts. Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.
Respect for People, Underutilized People, and Waste
The two pillars in Lean Thinking are Continuous Improvement and Respect for People. What is not well understood is that most of what we know as The Toyota Production System comes from these two pillars. The Lean sub-culture tends to over-emphasize the “tools” of Kaizen, but miss the point altogether, since the tools stem or originate from one of the pillars above. The relationship between the 2 Pillars and Waste is subtle, but important.
The two pillars in Lean Thinking are Continuous Improvement and Respect for People. What is not well understood is that most of what we know as The Toyota Production System comes from these two pillars. The Lean sub-culture tends to over-emphasize the “tools” of Kaizen, but miss the point altogether, since the tools stem or originate from one of the pillars above. The relationship between the 2 Pillars and Waste is subtle, but important.
