Features

Jim Womack on applying lean thinking to a greenfield

FeaturesJun 10, 2014

FEATURE - In this essay, first appeared in his book Gemba Walks, Jim P. Womack describes the benefits of launching lean in a greenfield environment drawing from his experience volunteering in Central America.

What is the role of a sensei in a lean organization?

FeaturesMay 27, 2014

Michael Ballé & Dan Jones

RESEARCH - For most CEOs, working with a sensei is common practice. Yet, many questions remain on this role. This paper aims to bring clarity to the "sensei mystery".

Dan Jones reflects on lean management in the digital age

FeaturesMay 20, 2014

Dan Jones

FEATURE - Professor Dan Jones looks at the unique challenges the digital age presents the business community with, and explains how lean thinking can help us to effectively address them.

Pick the right approach to lean thinking to beat resistance

FeaturesMay 8, 2014

José Roberto Ferro

FEATURE - We are often told that employee resistance to change is natural, but it’s really just the result of a wrong approach to lean thinking. Learn to effectively engage people and change will follow.

The end of outsourcing: produce where it makes sense

FeaturesApr 29, 2014

Jim Womack

ARTICLE - In this essay, one of the 12 new essays written for the second edition of Gemba Walks, Jim Womack encourages firms to "do the lean math" and move production where it makes most sense.

Smalley and Ballé discuss the spirit of lean thinking

FeaturesApr 22, 2014

Michael Ballé & Art Smalley

FEATURE - Two weeks ago, the authors shared their thoughts on mindset. In part 2, they discuss how to grasp the true spirit of lean.

René Aernoudts offers guidelines for lean transformations

FeaturesApr 17, 2014

René Aernoudts

ARTICLE - This set of guidelines will help you to understand how to properly structure your lean transformation, keeping into account the entire organization as it tries to embrace and manage change.

Smalley and Ballé discuss the true spirit of lean thinking

FeaturesApr 8, 2014

Michael Ballé & Art Smalley

FEATURE - We talk about “changing our mindset” all the time, but do we really understand what this means in the context of our lean transformation? This two-part article tries to understand what the spirit of lean really is.

Michael Ballé on rewards and recognition in a lean company

FeaturesApr 3, 2014

Michael Ballé

FEATURE - The author addresses the ongoing debate on rewards and recognition, explaining how an optimal relationship between team members, team leaders and group leaders will influence motivation.

Using lean thinking to understand IT processes

FeaturesMar 24, 2014

Marie-Pia Ignace, Regis Medina, and Sandrine Olivencia

FEATURE - Lean thinking and agile have the power to make software development and IT processes less knotty, but before they can their relationship and prerogatives must be understood.

What do acupuncture and lean thinking have in common?

FeaturesMar 11, 2014

Marcus Chao

ARTICLE - Lean thinking draws inspiration from a variety of sources, sometimes the most unexpected. Ever wondered what acupuncture and lean have in common? Marcus Chao tells us.

Can a company be considered lean if improvements result in layoffs?

FeaturesJan 27, 2014