5S is no longer a new concept in many workspaces, yet many still struggle with the implementation. Before I settle down into my 5S training sessions I like to first take the temperature of the class, “What do you know about 5S?” Sometimes people can rattle off the 5S’s: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, & Sustain. Most often I get a general reduction to housekeeping activities like sorting and cleaning. This is as good an opportunity as any to highlight what the takeaway of the training should be. If you remember anything at all, the objective of 5S is not just housekeeping but to establish and then elevate the baseline to which work is performed. Its simplicity is culpable of its misrepresentation. 5S sounds a lot like housekeeping but its full benefits can only be reaped if you are critical of the process and not just going through the motions.
Read More
In my experience as a Lean practitioner I've had to navigate through different industry/corporate cultures, levels of organizations, and varied personalities. You may have already found that the potency of the Lean agenda depends heavily on how it is received. Through my own experiences training and advocating Lean methods, I've decided to include a short list of some keys to success that may help others incite and sustain change.
Read More
The advent of social media has unarguably raised the level of communication whether you use it through professional or personal channels. While we capitalize on all the benefits of social media in order to acquire new customers, spread promotional materials, solicit suggestions, or raise awareness about pertinent social issues, it is also important to understand how social media skews reality. The ubiquity and popularity of social media has not just changed how we communicate but how we interpret the world around us. Many editorials have since been written lamenting the attention seeking yet attention deficit millennial generation that are being bred from this technology. As a Continuous Improvement specialist or Change Agent, it is crucial to understand how modern communication systems such as social media interactions impact the culture of change and acceptance.
Read More
It is often tempting to close out projects after the Improve phase as to alleviate the demands of multiple continuous improvement initiatives. However, these initial stages of change are also when the process is most vulnerable if not controlled properly. It is important then to mitigate risk factors and ensure accurate and complete adoption of the changes during this phase. It is not uncommon to hear staff complain about always having changes come down the pipe but then have little to no support on the follow-through. Here are some quick tips to help sustain change and improve culture:
Read More
