Lean ← Anthony DoMoe ← Page 2

Can Training Be Replaced With Poka Yoke??

Jul

20

2016

I recently had an “oopsie” moment that made me reassess my thoughts on mistake-proofing. I wanted to score a “quick win” and ran a Pareto Analysis of the top causes of downtime on one of my facility’s processes. The top two areas for concern (the “long poles in the tent” so to speak) were expected. ...

Standard Specifications, Standard Procedures, and Standard Work… What’s the Difference?

Jul

18

2016

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Except in my neighborhood, where the Reno summer heat has taken its toll on all grass equally. If only there were some written standards that could help run our sprinklers efficiently and effectively, maybe we could keep a nice, uniformly green neighborhood. You’d ...

Do These 4 Steps In Order And Win 1

Jul

15

2016

Shigeo Shingo is well-known in Continuous Process Improvement, and his ideas permeate much of what is accomplished in the CPI arena. One of my favorite ideas that came from him follows in the quote below, and it can be a big help to you if you are seeking direction in how to approach your Lean ...

The Constraint Is Not Where You Think.

Jul

5

2016

This Time, it’s the People! Traditional lean thinking tells us that the problem isn’t the person; rather, it’s the process. But sometimes the process is designed to make the person the problem. In a heavily automated process all of the machine components are usually subordinated to the slowest machine in the line. This is part ...

Value Added Learning 1

Jun

30

2016

Replace the wasted time in your daily tasks with Value Added Learning by following these 3 simple tips. We never have enough time for the important things in life. But most of us aren’t effectively using the time we have available. Follow these three tricks to capture wasted time and get your productivity back on ...

Are You Leaner than a 3rd-Grader?

Jun

28

2016

Implementation of a new CPI initiative involves interrelated parts moving fluidly through (and beyond) the entire organization. One method of implementation focuses on using an audit checklist to drive the desired results. This is related to the concept of “beginning with the end in mind”, and can be an essential part of driving the right ...

Customer Disservice (or, “How to Break a Process”) 3

Jun

24

2016

Have you ever gotten really crappy service from a broken process? My wife and I recently completed a trip from Richmond, Virginia to Reno, Nevada (through Dallas/Fort Worth) on an airline I won’t mention (although I’ll say that it is the most patriotic of airlines if you happen to be American). Their passenger check-in process ...

What Disney Can Teach Us About Lean Methodology 2

Jun

8

2016

Do you remember the Dodo in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (1951)? You know… The bird who’s standing on a pillar of dry land, exhorting everyone around him to engage in a “caucus race” in order to stay dry? If you’ve seen it, then the image below should refresh your memory. And if you haven’t seen ...