Mark Graban recently wrote a blog post that reflects the current thinking of many Lean movement leaders and influences: "It’s Hard to Ask Leaders to Change the System in Which They’ve Risen and Excelled." The "system" in question is the management system and culture of the company or companies that … [Read more...] about Narrow Thinking, Narrow Results
Wanting to Know, Preferring to Ignore
Those of us who are fans of Toyota's management system (TMS) and Lean management (LM) are a curious bunch. We want to learn as much as we can as fast as possible. We want to know the details of TMS and LM and how to make them work in ways that fulfill our understanding and our expectations. We are … [Read more...] about Wanting to Know, Preferring to Ignore
The Back Story – Irrational Institutions
This is the back story to the book Irrational Institutions. Irrational Institutions is a follow-on to my popular 2018 book, The Triumph of Classical Management Over Lean Management, which meticulously examined the problem of why leaders resist or reject Lean management. It succeeded at … [Read more...] about The Back Story – Irrational Institutions
How Many Genbas are There?
Top company leaders are Genba 1. Dr. Emiliani's interest has long been Genba1. Click on image to enlarge. When the world became aware of Toyota's production system in the mid-1970s, there was one genba -- the shop floor. I call this Genba 3. When Lean arrived in 1988, there remained just one … [Read more...] about How Many Genbas are There?
Winning With Lean
The goal of any athlete competing in a race is to win. How much do they want to win by isn't something athletes usually think about. They are content if the smallest margin of measurement results in a win. For example, a runner wins if they finish 0.001 seconds ahead of their nearest competitor. … [Read more...] about Winning With Lean
Lean Can’t Fail!
What is the future of Lean management when some of its leading proponents construct an alternate reality in which Lean transformation processes are claimed to be fail-safe? Perhaps Lean is unlike anything else in existence, given to us fully formed by its creator, and, in some magical or occult way, … [Read more...] about Lean Can’t Fail!
Lean Retrospective
After nearly 25 years of study, practice, and teaching Toyota's management system and Lean management, it is time for a quick look back. Over the years I have found that many people are confused by my work because I am neither a pure Lean promoter nor a pure Lean critic. My body of work spans both … [Read more...] about Lean Retrospective
Why Business Leaders Vote “No” for Lean
Every Lean promoter and advocate knows that the adoption of Lean management is in business leaders’ interests, not against their interests. The interests encompass that of the business itself and all its stakeholders: employees (executive and non-executive), suppliers, customers, investors, … [Read more...] about Why Business Leaders Vote “No” for Lean
Lean Transformation is Not Difficult
Lean transformation is often said to be difficult. But what if that is only the apparent problem, based on our perspective as people who work to promote Lean and help organizations transform from Classical management to Lean management? The difficulty clearly looks to us like a lack of understanding … [Read more...] about Lean Transformation is Not Difficult