Gotta Go Lean by Jeff Hajek

6 Ways to Improve Problem Solving in Your Company

Jeff Hajek — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:04:04 +0000

At its core, much of continuous improvement is about problem solving. Tools such as Standard Work, policy deployment, kanbans, and andons are all really just pre-packaged solutions to common problems. Despite that focus on resolving issues, few people have well-developed problem solving skills. This holds true even in companies that have been on their Lean [...]

Are You Kidding Me? You Call That a Metric?

Jeff Hajek — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:11:16 +0000

I’ve been trying to improve my overall fitness. Fortunately, it just got easier for me. Pizza and fries are now officially healthy choices. Congress has confirmed that both count as vegetables in school lunches. I am going to increase my consumption of both, as we are supposed to load up our diets with produce, right? [...]

Standard Work-in-Process (+ Lean PDF, + Video)

Jeff Hajek — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:15:33 +0000

Standard work-in-process (or Standard WIP, or SWIP) is the designated minimum amount of material needed to keep your Standard Work flowing. It is one of the three main components of Standard Work. The other components include balancing the work to the takt time, and assigning it to a single operator. The consistent quantities designated by [...]

Rule of Thumb

Jeff Hajek — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:11:08 +0000

A rule of thumb is simply a general process used for a specific condition. This is different from rules, regulations, Standard Work, and other forms of documented instructions. In those cases, the required actions are specified. For a rule of thumb, there is no such formality. An example of a rule of thumb might [...]

Let Me Think for Seven Minutes

Jeff Hajek — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:44:45 +0000

So, this afternoon, I was straightening up the house, and I saw a wrapper on the floor in the family room. I asked my young son if he left it there. His response? “Let me think for 7 minutes.” I tried hard not to laugh. After all, I am trying to reinforce the concept of [...]