Lean Resources

Here you will find a host of information providing insights into operational excellence and innovation suitable for a range of industries and experience levels.

#3 White Paper

Lean Practices Support Innovation

To consistently drive top-line growth, leaders must commit to a disciplined and creative focus on meeting today’s market challenges while strengthening capabilities for future competitive mastery. It’s a matter of keeping the core business running optimally without losing sight of what’s on the horizon—and being prepared for and open to “creative destruction.”

#7 White Paper

Mastering the Gemba Walk

What’s the center stage of lean management?
The “gemba” is, of course. That’s the “real place” where work is happening, where value is being created. That’s the focal point of improvement, of lean thinking and action.

Make it Visible…

#22 OE Newsletter

Last month saw another round of graduates from our Lean Manager for Services Certification held on the campus of The Ohio State University. Instructor and Executive Partner of Productivity Inc., Catherine Converset, spent a few minutes with us recently to talk about implementing lean in service and administrative functions.

#9 White Paper

What’s Missing From Your Lean Initiative?

TPM’s integral role, with 5 takeaways to guide your strategy.
Most business owners and general managers recognize just how critically important proper equipment maintenance is, particularly in an asset-oriented work environment.

Lessons from Hackathons

#19 Innovation Newsletter

The term “hacking” usually brings to mind the activities of rogue computer programmers with bad intentions working to breach the security of a network. In that context, a “hackathon” might sound like a race to see who can be best and fastest intruder.

6 Actions to Help Mid-Level Managers Transition into Lean Leaders

Why do so many companies do lean things, but struggle to become a truly lean company? The answer lies with the reluctance of mid-level management to adopt the improvement mindset.

Claims Reimbursement Improvement Using Waste Reduction and Standard Work

For: 400-Bed Hospital Situational Challenge A cumbersome claims process with excessive delays in receivables was creating poor cash flow for […]

From an Industrial Engineering Viewpoint

This is the “green book” that started it all — the first book in English on JIT, written from the engineer’s viewpoint. Here is Dr. Shingo's classic industrial engineering rationale for the priority of process-based over operational improvements in manufacturing.

Sitting Around Dying Efficiently

Now, none of us are sitting around, not in today’s market. More than likely we are running around, from one thing to another, juggling 10 projects, or more, at the same time. So, perhaps a better description of what we are doing would be “Running Around Dying Efficiently.”

Innovating the Ordinary

#23 Innovation Newsletter

Companies face continuing challenges that demand fresh perspectives on questions such as: How do I grow my organization? How can our organization disrupt the space we compete in? What strategies and concepts will enable us to change or improve the consumer experience?