Creativity 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…

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Arrows 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…

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ThePower of People: Adapting to Changing Times

CASE STUDY – A people-centric approach to work, improvement, and the adoption of automation is allowing this Norwegian company to thrive in a changing industry and environment. Words: Eivind Reke with Håvard Buhaug In 1861, a Swede named Göran Fredrik Göransson figured out how to industrialize steel production with the Bessemer method. Almost overnight, the…

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Lean, Our “Breda” and Butter

BOOK EXCERPT – The city of Breda in the Netherlands has been on a lean journey for the past six years. Today we share an excerpt from the book The Lean Government, which sets the scene for the transformation. Words: Erik Ottens A snowstorm of confetti enveloped the people watching the parade. The tall floats…

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Why Is TPS So Smart?

FEATURE – A real understanding of Lean Thinking can only stem from an exploration of its tacit aspects, not just its most explicit, easy-to-grasp elements. Words: Michael Ballé and Alice Mathieu “We know more than we can tell.” In the early 1960s, Michael Polanyi opened our eyes to the reality that much of human knowledge…

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Breaking the Silence

FEATURE – By changing its attitude towards problems and welcoming them as opportunities to learn, this Colombian construction company has turned around its culture. Words: Ángela Bayona and Ivonne Paola Patiño In Constructora Bolívar, silence is our worst enemy. Although certain types of silence are good, others are worrisome – especially those that stem from…

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Solving Problems by Developing People

INTERVIEW – Top leaders at Chilean company Elecmetal talk to us about how lean has transformed their role in the organization and how capability development is fuelling change. Interviewees: The Elecmetal C-suite Interviewer: Roberto Priolo, Editor, Planet Lean Roberto Priolo: José Pablo, let’s start with you. In a previous article for Planet Lean, you discussed…

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One-Time Customer, Lifelong Customer

FEATURE – We start the new year with a reminder to put customers first, always. It is they who make our business and keep our lean initiatives true, says the author. Words: Michael Ballé Take a pen and the back of an envelope and sketch your business. Indulge me, here. Just draw whatever comes to…

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Digital Transformation Means Adopting a New Culture: Here's How To Do It

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You’re reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Today, 70 per cent of companies cite digital transformation as their most critical business development goal, making technology adoption and digital innovation top priorities for the path forward. Freepik Successful digital transformation involves more than following…

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The Year That Was

ROUND-UP – In his annual review of the best content we published, our editor looks back at 2022 and what this year was like for the Lean Community. Words: Roberto Priolo, Managing Editor, Planet Lean It is now a tradition that, at the end of every year, I look back at the past 12 months’…

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