Kaizen

Understanding the current reality within the context of time and space is extremely critical. The time observation form is a powerful tool to facilitate direct observation.

One of kaizen's unofficial taglines is, "Just do it." And it makes sense. We try to spin the PDCA wheel as fast and as frequently as possible in order to experiment and quickly learn and make adjustments.

Last week, Defense Industry Daily posted the first half of an article authored by yours truly and Chuck Wolfe.

I recently facilitated a five team, week long kaizen event. The teams made some very significant improvements (more kaikaku than kaizen).

Yesterday, Defense Industry Daily posted the first half of an article which I co-wrote with Chuck Wolfe, "Want an Effective Kaizen Event?

Remember Angus MacGyver? He was the star of the old MacGyver TV series and used science and the inventive application of common items (gum wrappers, duct tape, etc. - kind of a one person moonshine shop) to solve desperate problems.

Lean thinking may not have been big in the first century, but there's at least one quote that can be applied to Lean, "...you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." So, in a Lean context how do you know the truth and how will it set you free?

Every once in a while I will come upon someone who will share their recently identified business problem. Great first step. But, then they'll state their plan to address that problem in the next kaizen event. And oh, by the way, that kaizen event may not be for another MONTH!