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Is Lean Finished in Ireland?
Recently a client asked me if Lean was finished in Ireland. By that he meant that he thought people were tired of it as a continuous improvement approach, and that it had pretty much run…
Sustaining the Lean Organization
What is it that enables a lean organization to deliver ever increasing value to customers over time? During the past 21 years as principal consultant with Lean Ireland I have gleaned some key indicators for…
Building Organisation Resilience
Small businesses in particular have been badly hit by the drop in trade associated with coronavirus pandemic, especially in the service sectors. Nonetheless, some have been agile enough to adapt, transform and thrive. Much has…
Hansei, the Art of Reflection and Improvement
Hansei is an integral part of the Toyota continuous improvement journey, and often the most neglected in western organisations. The term hansei is derived from two Japanese words. “Han” means to change, turn over, or…
Safety in the workplace aka ‘How to save a life’
“An Ohio senator was captured driving during a government Zoom meeting on Monday — the same day the state was considering a bill proposing a crackdown on distracted drivers.” Wilson Wong, NBC News, May 7,…
What’s Your Problem?
The problem statement The Collins dictionary describes a problem as ‘a situation that is unsatisfactory and causes difficulties for people.’ The problem definition, or problem statement if you like, is the cornerstone of any process improvement project. The problem statement enables…