After a disappointing earnings call where Toyota’s profit dropped by 18%, Toyota announces that they will be recalling 420,000 vehicles because of a crankshaft problem. Specifically, The safety recall to replace the crankshaft pulley on the V-6 engine affects 283,200 Toyota and 137,000 Lexus vehicles in the U.S., the company said. Worldwide it covers 550,000 […]
Learn to See / Genchi Genbutsu
Genchi Genbutsu is an important principle in Lean Manufacturing. In many ways, Genchi Genbutsu, sometimes spelled "Gembutsu" is foundational for the proper application of Lean and problem solving in general. Genchi Genbutsu means "go to the place". At the heart of the principle is experiencing the situation first hand, instead of relying on reports or other people's account of what happened. Scroll through the articles below to learn more.
Shoulders of Giants: Walter Shewhart
On this episode of “Shoulders of Giants”, we remember Walter Shewhart. Walter Andrew Shewhart (pronounced like “shoe-heart”, March 18, 1891 – March 11, 1967) was an American physicist, engineer and statistician, sometimes known as the father of statistical quality control and the person who developed the Control Chart. From the late 1930s onwards, Shewhart’s interests […]
Blendtec: Genchi Genbutsu and Visual Management
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: iTunes | Android | RSSWe 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 […]
Genchi Genbutsu: Don’t Talk to the Inmates
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, which runs counter to a blaming culture. Other articles in the Genchi Genbutsu Series: […]
Genchi Genbutsu: Leaders Develop Other Leaders
It’s often said that Toyota builds people, then it builds cars. To this end, it’s important to consider how Genchi Genbutsu as a principle helps us to develop other people. Other articles in the Genchi Genbutsu Series: Genchi Genbutsu: Data versus Facts Genchi Genbutsu: Develop Better Judgment Genchi Genbutsu: See the Problem Clearly Genchi Genbutsu: […]
Genchi Genbutsu Can Help Us Develop Empathy
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. This is why Genchi Genbutsu Go and See is so critical – it helps add clarity where emotion might otherwise cloud it. Other articles in the Genchi Genbutsu Series: […]
Genchi Genbutsu Principle: We Can Us See Problems Clearly
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? Other articles in the Genchi Genbutsu Series: Genchi Genbutsu: Data versus Facts Genchi Genbutsu: […]
Lean Six Sigma Safety Management: An Example from Toyota
Lean Six Sigma Safety Management: An Example from Toyota is an article showing how Toyota applies Genchi Genbutsu towards safety efforts. 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 […]
Genchi Genbutsu Can Help Us Develop Better Judgment
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. Other articles in the Genchi Genbutsu Series: Genchi Genbutsu: Data versus Facts Genchi Genbutsu: Develop […]
Genchi Genbutsu: Data versus Facts
Note: Check out my podcast with Eric Ries on the influence of the Toyota Production System on his work. In Lean Management Go and See is more of a management mindset than a technique or tool applied. To contrast, here are two approaches to learning about and solving problems (these are general comments): In the […]