Michael Ballé

The iron law of scale-up

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FeaturesOct 24, 2019
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – As our social systems grow, we need an effective way to manage them. This makes bureaucracies an inescapable part of life for our society and businesses. But how can we mitigate their negative effects?

My father is my sensei

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FeaturesJul 4, 2019
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – In this intimate account, the author reflects on the role of a lean sensei by looking back at what he’s learned from his own… his father.

The depth of lean thinking

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FeaturesAug 14, 2018
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – To really embrace lean thinking means to ensure the bureaucratic structures in our organizations enable our people to excel, rather than constrain their creativity.
Michael Ballé yamazumi chart

Michael Ballé on how a yamazumi chart enables standard work

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FeaturesJun 19, 2018
Michael Ballé
THE TOOLS CORNER – Standardizing the work is one of the fundamentals of lean thinking, but without a yamazumi chart visualizing it (and helping us to streamline it) this is impossible.
building trust lean company

Michael Ballé on how to really build trust in a lean company

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FeaturesJun 1, 2018
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – In this interesting piece, the author explains why living up to the ideal of mutual trust is hard, and how lean tools can help us build a workplace based on respect.
Lean quality management Michael Ballé

How to ensure quality issues are detected and tackled fast

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FeaturesMay 18, 2018
Michael Ballé
THE TOOLS CORNER – This month, the author discusses how we can ensure quality problems are identified early, tackled swiftly and prevented from reoccurring.
SMED lean tools Michael Ballé

Michael Ballé’s short guide to successfully using SMED

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FeaturesApr 16, 2018
Michael Ballé
THE TOOLS CORNER – For the second article in our new series, the author offers a guide to the origins and use of one of lean's most important tools: SMED.
Kanban lean thinking

Unlocking the secrets of Kanban with Michael Ballé

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FeaturesMar 20, 2018
Michael Ballé
THE TOOLS CORNER – In this new series, we go back to basics, offering a guide on how to implement some of the most important lean tools and explaining why they are so clever. First up, Kanban.
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Michael Ballé on how to ensure lean leads to real advantages

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FeaturesJan 25, 2018
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – Using the Japanese tradition of daruma dolls as an example, the author explains how to turn continuous improvement into concrete challenges – and, from that, real competitive advantage.
Michael Belle how lean works

Michael Ballé reflects on how lean really works

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FeaturesAug 17, 2017
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – Continuously studying the challenges we meet and the responses we devise, lean gives us endless opportunities to learn. The author goes back to basics, reflecting on some core lean premises.
Michael Ballé observe orient and learn by doing

To master lean thinking, lead with lean thinking

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FeaturesMar 19, 2017
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – When lean seems to fail, leaders should persist and work even harder to bring people on the journey - by observing the situation, providing clear success criteria, and learning together on the job. That's what leading with lean is about.
Michael Balle on Lead with Lean

Michael Ballé introduces his new book Lead with Lean

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InterviewsFeb 27, 2017
Michael Ballé
VIDEO - The author of Lean with Lean explains why he published a collection of papers rather than a business novel - his signature writing style - or a manual. Experience lean through the eyes of one of its greatest students... one a-ha moment at a time.
Balle lead with lean

Leadership and business transformation go hand in hand

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InterviewsFeb 2, 2017
Michael Ballé
VIDEO – We constantly talk about the role of leadership, but perhaps we don't realize just how intertwined leadership transformation and business transformation really are. This short video discusses why.
Michael Balle on lean strategy

An interview with Michael Ballé on lean as a strategy

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InterviewsJan 20, 2017
Michael Ballé
INTERVIEW – In this interview, Michael Ballé discusses lean thinking as a strategy, how to unearth problems, and the best (or only) way to initiate a lean transformation.
lean tree ballé

An organic metaphor of the organization to truly grasp lean

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FeaturesDec 15, 2016
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – We are used to seeing the organization as a mechanical entity, but how can a machine possible change and improve? We must change our mental model and learn to see the lean enterprise as a growing plant.
ballé lean experts

Ballé: before others, lean experts should heal themselves

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FeaturesAug 1, 2016
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – The role of experts in lean thinking is often the subject of heated discussions. Here, Michael Ballé tells us about the common mistakes lean experts make, and explains why – before helping others – they should help themselves.
gemba seven sins

Michael Ballé on the gemba cardinal sins hindering kaizen

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    string(1378) "The idea of “lean management” can refer to both individual managerial behaviors and, more in general, the set of principles and practices characterizing the adoption of lean thinking in an organization.

In the first case, lean management is closer in meaning to the idea of “lean leadership” and entails the development of behaviors that foster continuous improvement at the front line, such as respect for people, asking questions (rather than providing answers), going to see to really understand the work and the causes of problems, and scientific problem solving. In the second instance, lean management describes the lean philosophy more in general.

In its more general meaning, lean management – or lean thinking, if you prefer – derives from the Toyota Production System and is now recognized as a superior management approach that, through continuous improvement, customer focus, teamwork and relentless people engagement, leads to great results in terms of quality, performance, delivery, and cost. The promise of lean management is to create the most value for customers using the least possible amount of resources. As an approach to running a business, it brings benefits to all parties involved, from customers to employees, suppliers to wider society.

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FeaturesMay 5, 2016
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – What are the immediate signs that tell us that our workplace is not conducive to kaizen? The author draws on his experience as a coach at the gemba to highlight them. Look out for them in your own company!
lean thinking strategy

Can lean support strategy as much as it does operations?

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FeaturesFeb 2, 2016
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – Does lean management help us at strategic level as much as it does operationally? What’s the strategic thinking behind lean thinking? Michael Ballé answers these questions by looking back at some of history’s great military strategists.