Michael's Lean Lens

Secret Sauce and Magic Fairy Dust

2014-01-04T17:45:00.001-08:00

I love this quote from Eiji Toyoda, by way of Jon Miller's Gemba Panta Rei blog post, The Man Who Saved Kaizen:

On Toyota's secret sauce:

"Ultimately, there are no special secret strategies to the Toyota Production System. We are just doing the obvious things, thoroughly, without omission, as a habit. This is simple, but difficult to do consistently across large organizations."

Reminds me of what Mr. Nagamatsu of Shingijutsu shared with us years ago while at Tektronix-Danaher: "There is no magic fairy dust!"

That said, what I've found if you do the basic (obvious) things thoroughly, without omission, as a habit, then 'magic' happens! .....there's just no bottle for it.

Casey Neistat--Lean Rockstar (and Movie Maker)

2014-01-04T15:50:00.001-08:00

I've watched a few (OK, many/most) of this guy's videos on YouTube, and I must say I like his stuff and generally his approach to life (from what I can tell).

It wasn't until I saw "Casey's Neistat's Wildly Functional Studio" that the Lean connection hit me. Check it out:

He gets it:

Visual management (at a glance.....dare I say "5S")........check.
"Moonshining" (i.e. making things yourself from what you have readily available).....check.
--Not letting perfect get in the way of better.....check.
--Creativity before capital.......check.
and more.....
Oh, and don't forget.......Being cool..............................check.

Similarly, lots of Lean-ness with "Emergency Brake":

You can check out more of his stuff at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/caseyneistat
http://caseyneistat.com/

Lean Police?

2014-01-04T14:30:00.002-08:00

There are many angles to this one--both Lean and Six Sigma. I bet this police officer would be great at leading Lean Transformation. Talk about leading "as if" you have no authority (even when you really do).

Thanks to a Facebook friend of mine for sending this link out (months ago)!

The Road to Exellence

2013-09-10T23:46:00.002-07:00

A while back I ran across this image somewhat at random in a presentation file on the internet. I like to call it "The Road to Excellence":

In my work I seem to encounter this 'place' regularly, and it can be very trying at times. But look carefully......up the hill on the left......there is always a way.....

NOTE: I've tried to track down the original source of this image. At one time I thought I had found the source at http://limitlesslivingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Dead_End_Road.jpg, but then it dropped off the internet. I later found the same image at http://www.rugusavay.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/closed-roads-9.jpg. If anyone knows of THE proper source reference please let me know. Also, there are other similar "dead end" images at http://www.rugusavay.com/closed-roads/. - M

Great Stuff from HENRYandREL Supermarche: Meals Per Hour - YouTube

2013-09-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

What's better than helping people in need? Answer: Doing an even better job of it.

Here's a great video from HENRYandREL Supermarche (that's been out for a few months now) showing just that, and also provides a nice glimpse into some of the basic concepts of Lean (AKA - the Toyota Production System). There is lots to love about this video, but I particularly love the line from Natalia near 1m:25s, "...if you have a good system...the work takes care of itself." Yes indeed! - M

Now for something completely different.....Lean Life???....The Wisdom of Tenderness: Jean Vanier on Lived Compassion, L'Arche, and Becoming Human | On Being

2013-09-06T22:34:00.001-07:00

I recently caught a radio segment of this content on a late drive home one night and was captivated. I'd never heard of Jean Vanier (or his work, his story), nor On Being with Krista Tippett. Bits of the interview still float through my mind weeks later. The interview is lengthy (~1+hrs depending on the content file you choose) and appears to be a number of years dated now, but if you have some time check it out.

There are a number of connections to Lean in the content that is covered....(Aside: I particularly like the brief discussion related to Aristotle)...., and it gets me thinking about Lean....Lean Manufacturing, Lean Healthcare, Lean Government,..... dare I say Lean Life? Arghhhh!!!!......"Lean" sure is a poor label for what Lean is about. Maybe instead of Lean.........just "Good", or "Great"! .......or maybe it is that which cannot be named..... But I digress.... ......Enjoy. - M

The Wisdom of Tenderness: Jean Vanier on Lived Compassion, L'Arche, and Becoming Human | On Being

Commercials that make you go, Lean?!?! --Comcast Business TV Commercial, 'Rolling in Less'

2013-09-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

This commercial puts me into a bit of a catch-22 about the concept of "more is less", but you've got to love the line, "...we're rolling in less..." at the end. Although Lean is not about cost savings, the scene seems all too familiar. Enjoy. - M

Lean Cellist?.....Great Stuff from Rob Michael - Google+ - Do the work.

2013-07-28T14:21:00.001-07:00

Rob Michael - Google+ - Do the work.

Movie Clips that make you go, Lean?!?! --The Hobbit-Good Morning Scene

2013-06-20T20:09:00.003-07:00

I may be a little behind on the movie scene, but last weekend I watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey with my kids. Next to the scenes with Gollum, the scene that I enjoyed the most was the "good morning" scene towards the beginning of the movie. I was waiting (and hoping) for Gandalf to break into a full lesson on the importance of simple standardized language and communications and/or Simple English, etc. Or he could have 'dropped' the quote from George Bernard Shaw, "the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." Yet, it was quite entertaining as it was. I was pleased that I found this movie clip. Enjoy. - M

"The first follower is what transforms a ‘lone nut’ into a leader." - Derek Sivers | Great Stuff: TED Video, How to Start a Movement

2013-06-20T19:19:00.003-07:00

This TED video has been out for a while now, but it never gets old. Derek Sivers does a great job narrating/presenting. A great, short watch! - M

Great stuff: Recorded Webinar--"A Roadmap to Lean Healthcare Success" from LEI and John Toussaint, MD

2013-06-11T23:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I re-watched this webinar from LEI and John Toussaint, MD (originally from back in mid April) with a group of healthcare leaders. The presentation hits all the 'high points' very well. It's nice having resources like these available for free. It sure adds support to my messages on the topic when someone like Dr. Toussaint is saying basically the same thing. Hats off to LEI and those Lean leaders out there drawing on these free resources to advance their Lean journey.

Recorded Webinar: A Roadmap to Lean Healthcare Success, from LEI and John Toussaint, MD

Great Stuff: The Lean Management System Workshop with Joe Murli (YouTube)

2013-06-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

You said it Joe!

I love listening to how others present the concept and content of the Lean Management System. Although an 'advertisement' for the workshop, this video provides the viewer with a great overview-outline of the Lean Management System.....value for the customer even before they sign-up! - M

Great Image: Sloan vs. Lean Management

2013-06-11T20:57:00.003-07:00

I love this image for comparing Sloan Management style to Lean Management style.

http://ow.ly/kuCbw (Note: originally linked to from Google+, but I can't seem to find the original source. If anyone knows the original source let me know and I'll add the reference.)

Great Stuff from Godin: Overcoming the impossibility of amazing

2013-06-11T20:41:00.003-07:00

Great blog post from Seth Godin: Overcoming the impossibility of amazing

Sounds a lot like the Lean saying, "don't let perfect get in the way of better."

I particularly like the last line from Godin, "There's a big difference between not settling and not starting."

Commercials that make you go, Lean?!?! --MiO Fit, "Change"

2013-06-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

Oh, Tracy Jordan (er...Morgan).......what a keynote speaker you'd be for a Lean conference. Talk about change! - M

Commercials that make you go, Lean?!?! --EDS, "Airplane"

2013-06-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Building airplanes in the sky--does this remind anyone of Lean transformation, or is it just me? - M

Commercials that make you go, Lean?!?! --Liberty Mutual Insurance, "Humans"

2013-06-11T20:17:00.002-07:00

Ah, yes......humans. Not always as perfect as we think we are. Can you say
poka-yoke? Love it! - M

Jim Womack and Lean. Zen indeed!

2013-06-11T19:56:00.002-07:00

Jim Womack discusses the state of the lean movement, and compares the A3 management process with traditional modern management | Lean Enterprise Institute

I love Jim's line at ~11:44, something like, "...the fact that you don't know anything, and have no authority, is what actually makes you useful..." ...when he is talking about having fresh eyes, and referring to process improvement professionals (of some type). Zen indeed, Jim! Love it! - M

Lean gardening???

2013-06-11T19:52:00.002-07:00

Check out Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA | Video on TED.com

Favorite quotes: “The funny thing about sustainability…is that you have to sustain it.” and “Plant some sh*t.”

Great Stuff: Lean is like the blues.......

2013-06-06T20:37:00.001-07:00

.....everyone has their own version of it. Love this stuff from the Gemba Coach:

"Why Are There So Many Points of View About What Lean Is?" http://feedly.com/k/ZIAGQ6

Kaizen Notebook: Lovejoy, the Airlines, and Big Data

2013-05-31T00:25:00.001-07:00

Great stuff from Evan Durant--

Kaizen Notebook: Lovejoy, the Airlines, and Big Data: One of my favorite concepts of Operations Management is the OM Triangle, also called Lovejoy's Triangle. It describes the interrelati...

Don't let perfect get in the way of better.

2013-05-31T00:08:00.001-07:00

So it begins.