RECENT POSTS
The Lean Assumptions
This week I spent my time in a Master Black Belt class for training. This particular week was focused on Advanced Lean and Finance. Other...
Being a More Human Leader
In the past two weeks I have been able to reflect more on the idea of how Lean makes us more human. The pillar of Respect can change how...
What motivates you?
I have been working with a small team in Atlanta, GA the past couple weeks and used a lot of the skills learned from our Operational...
Management of Distrust
Last week I wrote about a pretty amazing experience one of our plants had with their team. The human side of work was shown and the...
The Human Side of Lean
This week was a special week in one of our plants. I received an excited text and call from one of my colleagues. "Tom, I am having an...
The very simple thing that links all of Lean together
Last week I had one of those epiphany moments. You know, those "I can't believe I didn't see that before" type epiphanies. I have been...
Model Operation or Culture, Which Comes First?
With this experience going through a cultural transformation, I have found that I've gotten into some very interesting and...
This is the Mindset that can Change our Culture
I recently went to the LSS World Conference 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Like most of the conferences I have been to in the past few years, the...
Krav Maga: Lean Leadership in Action
I have had a bit of a rough week. Work has been fun, but personal things this week have left me in a bit of a knotted up state. I have...
Learning to be Kick-ass for the Customer
I want my customers to have a kick-ass experience. When I look at my company's customer scores on Google or Yelp, I see 1, maybe 2 star...
Leaning out the Cleaning
I hate cleaning. It's not that the cleaning part is what I hate, I hate the fact that things get so dirty so quickly and then I spend so...
What is holding you back?
This week I was in Independence, MO working with another team in our company to help learn the skills of coaching and how to see waste...
Coaching is difficult, but worth it
I've been working with a team of real Lean leaders helping to change culture by developing our company into a learning organization of...
But I don't have time!
Something that has been common in my experiences talking with people who are "doing Lean Six Sigma" is the severe lack of time to do...
It's time for some Career Resolutions 2018
Each New Year is a perfect time to reflect upon the previous year and think about the year ahead. I have spent this time to reflect upon...
Support Others and Create New Sparks
So it's been a few weeks since I last shared my thoughts. I am currently in Los Angeles, CA helping out one of our sites during our Peak...
It takes a spark
Sometimes all it takes is just one spark. One person to say "let's try it!" if you've got an idea, or "it's alright, what have we...
03 | It's Up to You
It's up to you. If you want to shift your mindset, that is ultimately your choice. I cannot tell you that Lean is the way to go for you...
Why should I trust you?
I've been having this conversation quite often lately. The idea is that for every action, for every statement, and for everything that we...
Shift the Mindset | Lean Safety
Last week I participated in a training provided by Bob Hafey. Bob is the author of Lean Safety, Lean Safety Gemba Walks, and his most...