The name "Gemba Tales" is borrowed from Mark Hamel's two Shingo Prize-winning books, Kaizen Event Fieldbook and Lean Math within which there are dozens of tales. Each tale is based upon the experienced (some successful, some not) of the author and other lean practitioners and shared for the purpose of providing insight into the application of certain lean concepts. The purpose of this blog is really no different, just a bigger community for sharing and learning.
Understanding a process' cycle time is extremely important, especially in the context of takt time. In a mixed model environment, cycle time can be a bit less straight-forward. That's where weighted averages may make sense.
Gemba Tales is proud to host the 126th edition of the Curious Cat Management Improvement Carnival.
A colleague of mine recently shared a story about the renowned Chihiro Nakao, student of Taiichi Ohno and founder of Shingijutsu. Seems that a client once asked Mr.
A couple of weeks ago, a Wall Street Journal article covered how many folks are creating computer-generated cartoons. I thought, "Hey, I can do that!" Whether or not I should is a different matter altogether...
Well, I took a shot at a hopefully instructive animated cartoon around problem-solving and what I see as one of the biggest challenges to effective problem-solving. Let me know if any of this seems familiar.
A recent George F. Will column referenced the sign recreated at left. While I don't necessarily believe that the signage encompasses the complete definition of discipline, it certainly provides food for thought.
I've driven past the building pictured below well over a dozen times. It appears commercial in nature, but with the lack of descriptive visual controls, I had no idea, until now, what it is.
During a recent business trip to Mexico, I spied a hotel worker using the tools captured in the picture.
Lean is applied within time and space. That's where we "live" and add value, or not.
Several weeks ago, I was chatting with a colleague of mine. He shared his belief that lean is an "invention" that could and should be used for the greater good of humanity.
My teenage education was (maybe) enhanced by substantial doses of Monty Python. Occasionally, I discover a lean metaphor somewhere within their body of work. One of my absolute favorite scenes is from the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The three minute scene goes by two names: 1) the Bridge of Death, or 2) the Three Questions.
