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Lean

5 Easy Rules For Kanban Success

5 Easy Rules For Kanban Success

Have you ever heard of Kanban? This LEAN principle was developed specifically to help achieve a Just-In-Time, or JIT, production cycle. In a JIT cycle, products and goods are produced in exact accordance with observed demand, rather than predicted demand. This means that instead of projecting how many widgets you need to produce in a

Tony Ferraro | January 30, 2014 | Kanban | Continuous Improvement, Kanban, Lean



Why A Scorecard Is Not A Dashboard

Why A Scorecard Is Not A Dashboard

Many businesses today use visual or progress indicators to help keep track of how operations are running. Some of the more popular methods involve using scorecards and dashboards to keep abreast of current happenings. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they have some distinct differences that are definitely worth noting. In this blog

Tony Ferraro | January 23, 2014 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean


Lean Manufacturing in a Nutshell

Lean Manufacturing in a Nutshell

Lean manufacturing is a topic which has been talked about a lot over the past few years, and it continues to get more attention almost every day. While there can be no doubt that lean strategies in manufacturing and other industries are extremely important, and effective, they can also be confusing. It is impossible to

Tony Ferraro | November 15, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Lean Manufacturing



On the Constraints of Bottlenecks

On the Constraints of Bottlenecks

In its simplest form, a bottleneck limits flow. In its original meaning, this is referred to how the neck of a bottle, regardless of the size of the rest of the container, limited how fast it could be poured. This same principle occurs in business, when one stage of production is slow, your entire process

Tony Ferraro | October 16, 2013 | Lean | Bottlenecks, Lean


The JIT System

The JIT System

When running any sort of physical production based business, you will often have stock on hand. Instead of only stocking for a short time, there will be a “backup” supply of products that can be called upon as demand changes. This is known as “just in case” manufacturing and is highly common in most industries.

Tony Ferraro | October 3, 2013 | Lean | JIT, Lean






Understanding True Alignment

Understanding True Alignment

The competition is fierce out in the world of business, there is always the drive to make things bigger (or smaller), better, and cheaper. Consumers demand quality products that actually deliver the results promised. Upon such a competitive playing ground, what separates the business “haves” from the business “have nots?” The answer may be as

Mike Wilson | April 11, 2013 | Training | Continuous Improvement, Lean


The Importance of Lean in the Office

The Importance of Lean in the Office

People who read about or study the lean techniques will find that most of what they read is about how to apply these standards to a manufacturing facility.  This is where the concept really got its roots, and also where it is most commonly implemented.  It is important to realize, however, that in addition to

Mike Wilson | April 10, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean


5S Factory

5S Factory

When you think of a 5S factory, what comes to mind? Do you think simply about organization or does your mind paint a picture of a fully functional, well-ordered, and efficiently run work environment? If you are thinking the second option is correct, you are on the right track. When it comes to a factory

Mike Wilson | March 28, 2013 | 5S | 5S, Lean