Yearly Archives: 2006

How Whirlpool Defines Innovation

How Whirlpool Defines Innovation [the broken link was removed] now we say if we’re going to put any money in an innovation project, it has to sit on a migration path, it has to be something that the customer really … Continue reading

Posted in Innovation | Tagged | Comments Off on How Whirlpool Defines Innovation

Toyota Again Get Positive Press

Toyota Eyes Chance to Pass by Anthony Faiola, Washington Post: The mainstream press continues to note the success of Toyota. Toyota has been toying with hybrid engines for the past 20 years. But the company began to seriously pursue a … Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Lean thinking, Management, Toyota Production System (TPS) | Tagged | Comments Off on Toyota Again Get Positive Press

Seduce Them With Six Sigma Success

Seduce Them With Success [the broken link was removed – sadly ASQ continues to increase their impeding of the access to material on quality management, in direct conflict with their professed mission] by Jay Arthur: Instead the change agents are … Continue reading

Posted in Management, Management Articles, Six sigma | Tagged | Comments Off on Seduce Them With Six Sigma Success

Lean Thinking Needed

Bank Wire Transfers vs. FedEx Delivery My goal was to give them all the paperwork, ensure I had sufficient funds, and schedule the transfer such that the money arrives in the sellers’ account on a particular date next week. But … Continue reading

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Management Articles | Comments Off on Lean Thinking Needed

Lean Enterprise Institute Expands

Lean Enterprise Institute Expands Services to Growing Lean Community [the broken link was removed] “LEI is introducing new programs, led by new people, at a new location to improve the practice of lean, the search for lean knowledge, and how … Continue reading

Posted in Lean thinking, Management | Comments Off on Lean Enterprise Institute Expands

Womack Podcast on GM

Topic: Management Improvement, Toyota Production System Womack Audio on Bloomberg.com [the broken link was removed] (14 minutes) via the Lean Blog, where they quote from the audio: “What do they worry about? They worry about the fact the system is … Continue reading

Posted in Management, Manufacturing, Toyota Production System (TPS), webcast | Tagged | Comments Off on Womack Podcast on GM

Lean Manufacturing Success

Oshkosh Truck Driven to Succeed [the broken link was removed] by Arlen Boardman: Wuest said this reduced the order-to-delivery time from 12 to 16 weeks to seven days. It made better use of manufacturing space and reduced inventory-holding costs. He … Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Lean thinking, Management, Management Articles, Manufacturing | Tagged | Comments Off on Lean Manufacturing Success

Problems with Bonuses

What sort of bonuses should we pay? by Seth Godin: Money, it’s been shown time and time again, is a demotivator. I’m not talking about a fair or even generous salary. Being a cheapskate is no way to find a … Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Management, Performance Appraisal, Psychology, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Company’s Purpose is to be Useful to Society

Toyota powers to the front [the broken link was removed] (Toyota President, Katsuaki Watanabe) eschews the normal management mantra of shareholder value above all. A company’s purpose, Watanabe insists, is to be useful to society. W. Edwards Deming described the … Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Lean thinking, Management, Toyota Production System (TPS) | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

US Manufacturing Plant Construction

Breaking Ground [the broken link was removed] by Jeff Moad: Last year, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, investment in new manufacturing plant construction increased 25%. That compares to a decline of 6.5% in 2003 and an … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Manufacturing | Tagged , | 4 Comments