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Category Archives: six sigma (3)

Systems Tinking

At GBMP’s launch of the Shingo Institute’s BUILD EXCELLENCE workshop, it occurred to me that perhaps systems thinking might be more aptly named..
This entry was posted in old lean dude, lean manufacturing, six sigma, continuous improvement, shingo model, lean thinking, Lean Culture on May 30 , 2017.

Lean Wizards

October was Lean conference month for me: First our own Northeast Lean Conference in Worcester (pronounced “Wustah”), then the international AME..
This entry was posted in lean, old lean dude, TPS, six sigma, continuous improvement, lean thinking, Toast Kaizen, Toyota Production System. Lean manufacturing, kaizen, 5S on October 31 , 2016.

Doormats

One of Shigeo Shingo’s popular status quo targets was engineers, whom he placed in three categories: Table engineers—those who just sit around a..
This entry was posted in old lean dude, lean manufacturing, six sigma, continuous improvement, lean engineer, toyota production system, design for assembly, shigeo shingo on September 23 , 2016.

Traditional Lean?

Twice in the last month I’ve heard the phrase “Traditional Lean” used in public presentations. In neither case did the presenter explain the..
This entry was posted in old lean dude, TPS, lean manufacturing, six sigma, continuous improvement, GM, automation, MRP, toyota production system, lean sigma, ERP on May 31 , 2016.

Another Use for Duct Tape

Here’s a post inspired by the glut of recent football weekends. Lou Holtz, the legendary college and pro football coach offers the following advice..
This entry was posted in old lean dude, lean manufacturing, six sigma, continuous improvement, Management Kaizen, Duct tape, kaizen, problem solving culture, toyota production system, gemba walk, Lean Culture on January 11 , 2016.

True North Pole

Many years ago a small expedition to the North Pole was funded by several American toy manufacturers, anxious to better understand how Santa’s..
This entry was posted in old lean dude, lean manufacturing, six sigma, continuous improvement, lean thinking, process, production, 7 wastes, true north, toyota production system on December 23 , 2015.

Mistake-Proofing Mistakes

There is a popular lore provided by Shigeo Shingo, that the original name for mistake-proofing (Poka-Yoke) was “fool-proofing” (Baka-Yoke). Shingo..
This entry was posted in lean, old lean dude, six sigma, continuous improvement, standard work, error-proofing, pokayoke, poka-yoke, toyota production system, shigeo shingo, mistake proofing, manufacturing on December 08 , 2015.

Overproduction

Not wishing to rub salt in the wounds of my beleaguered Red Sox, their meteoric rise from last place in 2012 to first place in 2013 and subsequent..
This entry was posted in lean, old lean dude, six sigma, continuous improvement, kaizen, overproduction, gemba, toyota production system, seven wastes, shigeo shingo on September 25 , 2014.

Always Made in America

[Blogger’s Note: A couple of important events coming up in the next couple weeks give me an opportunity to showcase a great American manufacturer in..
This entry was posted in lean, old lean dude, six sigma, Shingo Conference, TSSC, Toyota Production, continuous, made in america, operational excellence, ohba, Whirlpool on April 23 , 2014.

Lines

As any conference-goer can attest, the shortest distance between two points is not a straight line when that line is the lunch line. At Lean..
This entry was posted in lean, old lean dude, six sigma, continuous improvement, kaizen, TSSC, bruce hamilton, LEI, inventory, Jamie Bonini, John Shook on March 17 , 2014.

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