Archive for March 2023
The 5 Essentials of Operational Excellence
A Confusing Start to My Own Operational Excellence Pursuit Officially, I began my operational excellence pursuit almost 45 years ago. However, I did not know it at the time. Between 1985 and 1990, I was at work in my first true operational excellence workplace. My first two employers were traditional manufacturers. This third site was…
Read MoreFive Lean Mistakes to Avoid
FEATURE – Based on her experience at Lean Institute Colombia, the author lists five common mistakes hindering a lean transformation. Take note! Words: Angélica Gutiérrez No matter where you are on your lean journey, you have surely made some mistakes. They might have caused one or more false starts or stopped you in your tracks…
Read MoreBuild a Chain for Learning
How do you create a continuous improvement learning culture? You build a Chain of Learning with the 7 Cs of leading and learning! Many business leaders are focused on what we need to break down to achieve success and innovation — breaking the invisible chains that constrain us, busting through glass ceilings, shattering limiting beliefs,…
Read MoreReflecting on Our 15-Year Journey
FEATURE – PL readers will likely be familiar with IOV, the cancer clinic in Brazil that’s become a reference for lean healthcare for countless organizations. Here, Dr Fred looks back at IOV’s 15-year journey. Words: Dr Frederico Pinto Fifteen years ago, lean in healthcare was in its infancy. There were very few examples out there.…
Read MoreLean Digital with Generative AI
FEATURE – This year, PL will try to understand what the future of work looks like in a world with AI. To kick us off and make us think, we publish an article that is the result of a one-hour conversation between a human and a machine. Words: Christopher G. Thompson (with a little help…
Read MoreCreativity Unleashed
FEATURE – A lean coach from Argentina reflects on the transformations he has supported across Latin America and on why lean can help unlock the potential of the continent. Words: Nicolás Alejandro Rebozov A few weeks ago, a friend who is living in Denmark told me she was preparing for an important job interview and…
Read MoreArrows and Loops – The Evolution of Our Management System
FEATURE – A senior executive of a Spanish hotel chain shares an example of how the organization’s management system and visual tools have changed over time. Words: Jordi Estalella As an organization develops its ability to identify and solve problems and becomes more mature in its understanding of Lean Thinking, it is only natural that…
Read MoreWhy Do Projects Succeed?
Now that we know Why Projects Fail, let’s talk about the practical steps and behaviors Project Manager must adopt in order to deliver a project successfully. The three root causes of project success are: LEAN CEO mindset Project Purpose and Dominant Strategy Aligned Team LEAN CEO In the knowledge economy, with continuously growing competition, accelerating product lifecycles,…
Read More