"Getting Lean" can mean different things to different people. Sometimes employers use it as an euphemism for job layoffs but that would be the more literal definition of lean and not representative of the methodologies for continuous improvement. Lean manufacturing is a systematic method of eliminating waste and can provide a lot of benefits to manufacturers without compromising the welfare of their employees. Here are a few examples how "Getting Lean" can be a good thing for workers:
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
To "Get Lean", "Six Sigma a Process", or "Achieve Operational Excellence", are all hot buzzwords being tossed around organizations today to incite continuous improvement efforts, but what are the differences between them? and can they be used interchangeably?
Read More
Deciding on the appropriate level of response for a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) is not always straight forward. The most idealistic solutions are often not the most realistic. There are always other factors that come into play such as capital constraints, insufficient labor, or geographical barriers to name a few. Furthermore, as many CAPAs require cross-functional support, it brings the complexities of priority conflicts, corporate communications, and general office diplomacy.
Read More
Poka-Yoke is a fundamental in today's product design. It is a term that is generally distilled to "idiot-proofing". Poka-Yoke can be used in Lean Manufacturing wherever there is operator intervention in a process step.
The picture above is an everyday example of Poke-Yoke, an alternative Egg Timer that takes the guess work out of making a hard/soft boiled egg. Other examples include the various ports for cables for your TV or computer. These cables are not interchangeable and only fit in one orientation (i.e. USB/HDMI/Serial cables are all unique and cannot be put in backwards or upside down).
Poke-Yoke should be considered when determining CAPAs and during 5S activities. It is a method to bring control to a process that is historically variable. There are many creative solutions but here are some good places to start:
Read More
