Columns

Jim Womack on asking questions rather than providing answers

Womack's YokotenNov 29, 2016

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – As a first instinct, most of us tend to provide answers and solutions rather than ask questions. In this month's Yokoten, Jim Womack provides advice on how to fight this behavior and become a coach.

Real innovation stems from team efforts

Opinion piecesNov 24, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – Development managers and start-up entrepreneurs are under the illusion that innovation is just the work of especially talented individuals, but in today's world resource sharing and teamwork are preferable.

The Wells Fargo scandal teaches us lean must be nurtured

Opinion piecesOct 28, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – The latest banking scandal had us all wonder whether Wells Fargo has lost its way. But how does a pioneering bank that once had lean at its heart betray its core values so profoundly?

Work as we know it is disappearing; how can lean adapt?

Womack's YokotenOct 26, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK’S YOKOTEN – The rise of the robots may still belong in sci-fi books, but there is no doubt that work as we know it is fading away. What is the role of lean thinking in this world of drones and driverless taxis?

The importance of transparency: lessons from a food scandal

Lean-n-FoodSep 30, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – When do our mistake become an ominous sign that we are giving up on our customers and people? Following the salmonella contamination in cereals in Israel, the author reflects on business purpose and the importance of transparency.

Jim Womack takes on the legacy of Taylor and Ford

Lean ManagementSep 26, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – The author reflects on how the legacy of Taylor and Ford still poses challenges to the lean movement, and why critics should move past a simplistic view of lean as mere standardization.

Womack – sustaining gains must become a focus of management

Lean ManagementAug 29, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – In our lean journeys we spend so much time on improvement (kaizen) and innovation (kaikaku) that we often forget to address the issue of how to maintain our gains. Do you know iji? Perhaps you should.

How lean leaders can help turn obstacles into opportunities

Opinion piecesAug 25, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – Involvement, active listening and concern are crucial traits of lean leadership and the foundations on which respect for people is built into a learning organization, says Boaz Tamir reflecting on his evolution as a writer.

Jim Womack shares insights on how to help lean spread faster

Lean ManagementJul 26, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – How it is that some ideas and innovations spread like wildfire while others are slower to take roots? It is clear that lean thinking belongs to the latter category, but how can we speed up its diffusion?

Closer to your customers is where you’ll find success

Opinion piecesJul 20, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – Look at today's disruptive companies and you'll see how all of them have understood that real innovation calls for close proximity to the customer, rather than for stubbornly taking cover in the comfort of the upstream.

The future of agriculture – Jim Womack visits a lean farm

Lean ManagementJun 28, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – Lean in agriculture might still be in its infancy, but there is a small farm in Indiana that is already proving how valuable lean principles and techniques can be to this industry.

How to develop the product your customers want

Lean Product DevelopmentJun 22, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – When it comes to lean product development, it doesn’t matter whether you are making wine or motorcycles. Success comes from our ability to tell a story that engages our customers and a product they would line up for.

Womack: lean transformed automotive once and can do it again

Lean ManufacturingMay 30, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK’S YOKOTEN – In this month’s column, Jim shares an insightful analysis of the trends and dynamics of today’s automotive industry and looks at the opportunity that lean has to facilitate its next transformation.

Before developing a new product, assess your idea

Opinion piecesMay 13, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – Working on new product development without first assessing potential risks will almost certainly lead you to failure. Can you imagine the Wright brothers flying without having done preliminary studies on the feasibility of their idea?

Roberto Priolo shares the April highlights from Planet Lean

ColumnsApr 28, 2016

Roberto Priolo

EDITOR'S LETTER – Missed any of our articles this past month? Fear not, as our monthly roundup of Planet Lean content is here to provide you with the highlights and keep you up to date with the latest in lean thinking.

Womack: why lean is an opportunity for today’s aerospace

Lean ManagementApr 25, 2016

Jim Womack

WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – As a new age in aerospace dawns, with a need to move from huge and bespoke designs to affordable and high-volume production, lean thinking has a key role to play. But will the industry listen?

Why lean thinking can boost the loyalty of our customer base

Opinion piecesApr 15, 2016

Boaz Tamir

OPINION – Most organizations today can only dream of receiving the type of enthusiastic support that certain sports teams get from their fans. In order to do that, they need to forget short-termism and put their customers first.

Editor Roberto Priolo looks back at last month’s articles

ColumnsApr 1, 2016

Roberto Priolo

EDITOR'S LETTER - A summit in Las Vegas and a website redesign: March was a big one for PL. Our editor Roberto Priolo reflects on the month that was and offers a round-up of the content published on Planet Lean in March.

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Columns

Jim Womack on asking questions rather than providing answers

Real innovation stems from team efforts

The Wells Fargo scandal teaches us lean must be nurtured

Work as we know it is disappearing; how can lean adapt?

The importance of transparency: lessons from a food scandal

Jim Womack takes on the legacy of Taylor and Ford

Womack – sustaining gains must become a focus of management

How lean leaders can help turn obstacles into opportunities

Jim Womack shares insights on how to help lean spread faster

Closer to your customers is where you’ll find success

The future of agriculture – Jim Womack visits a lean farm

How to develop the product your customers want

Womack: lean transformed automotive once and can do it again

Before developing a new product, assess your idea

Roberto Priolo shares the April highlights from Planet Lean

Womack: why lean is an opportunity for today’s aerospace

Why lean thinking can boost the loyalty of our customer base

Editor Roberto Priolo looks back at last month’s articles