While at the doctor's office sometime back, I picked up a copy of a local Utah business magazine. In that magazine, there was an article that
Ask Why’ Five Times About Every Matter
Taiichi Ohno is known to have said that "having no problems is the biggest problem of all." He viewed problems not as a negative but as a "Kaizen
How Many Kanban Cards are Needed: Kanban Types and Analytical Sizing
Unlike traditional "push" systems, where material is moved downstream according to a schedule, or simply "shoved" downstream even when the downstream
Qualitative Variation Grid Example
There are outputs and the processes that produce those outputs. This article shows a way to measure qualitative variation via a simple experiement.
Attacking Business Complexity at Heinz Corporation
Many have argued that there is an inverse relationship between business or product complexity and customer satisfaction: the more complex a product or
Lean for Hospitals: Allegheny Medical Center From Factory Floor to the Hospital
I found this wonderful piece on the Toyota Production System and Healthcare. Another example of Lean in a Hospital is Virginia Mason Medical Center.
Zero Defects Concept is Wrong Approach Unless You Use Poka-Yoke
There is wisdom in the definition of Six Sigma, which is 3.4 defects per one million opportunities (DPMO), allowing for a 1.5 Sigma shift. But, some
Ford’s Contribution to Just-In-Time
The Just-in-Time (JIT) approach attempts to reduce costs and improve workflow by carefully scheduling material to arrive where needed at the proper
Improving Patient Flow with Lean Healthcare at Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Medical Centre -- Australia -- implemented Lean over 2.5 years ago and has seen substantial benefit in the way they provide care and the