Lean Metrics + Process Improvement = Success
When discussing the term “metrics” or “performance metrics,”we are referring to the approaches businesses take to gauge or measure performance. Metrics are often used to determine whether a company is or isn’t making its objectives and goals and often serves as a platform to identify areas in need of improvement. However, it is important to…
Mike Wilson | March 7, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
Help Your Business GO LEAN!
These days you may be hearing a lot talk regarding “going lean” and “implementing lean practices,” what does this truly mean? When a company implements lean practices they are essentially looking at all areas within the company, evaluating processes, searching for new ways to streamline and improve current processes, all while striving to create a…
Mike Wilson | March 5, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Lean Manufacturing
Is it Really an Operator Error or Something Else?
Let’s face it, there are many situations in which products are used either incorrectly or just simply don’t meet an intended need appropriately. Would you agree that this is due to an operator (customer) error? Or do you believe it is due to a process defect or product discrepancy? All too many times, operators are…
Mike Wilson | March 4, 2013 | Lean | Lean
Going Lean: IKEA style
For those of you who have not experienced the splendor of IKEA, right now is a great time to learn some helpful and effective facts regarding their lean tactics and safety style. IKEA is a Dutch-based retail company that originated in Sweden back in 1943. Through the years IKEA has proven itself to be one…
Mike Wilson | February 21, 2013 | Lean, Safety Solutions | Continuous Improvement, Lean
Six Sigma Certification: What’s it Worth?
Six sigma is an innovative way of operating that incorporates a set of strategies that aim to improve the processes conducted within a business. It was originally developed in the early 1980’s and has been a well-received tactic to help save businesses valuable time and money as well as improve processes and overall production tremendously.…
Mike Wilson | February 20, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Six Sigma
Motorola’s Six Sigma Program
Six Sigma has been around in the U.S. since the mid 1980’s and was originally developed and implemented by the Motorola Company. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with six sigma, it is essentially a set of strategies and tools that are implemented to enhance processes conducted within a business or organization. Six…
Mike Wilson | February 18, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Six Sigma
Document Control Made Easy
The control of important documents in today’s workplace continues to be a struggle despite the incorporation of the ISO 9001:2000 requirements. To clarify document control, it can be described as ensuring that current documents are first approved by qualified personnel and then distributed to the areas or places where they are actually used and that…
Mike Wilson | February 11, 2013 | Lean | Lean
Using Quality Objectives to Drive Strategic Performance Improvement
When most people think about performance improvement, they often think of things such as customer satisfaction or continuous improvement models. It is true that both of these components are important to the overall success of a business. However, the most significant revision within the ISO 9001 is calling for a requirement of quality objectives. If…
Mike Wilson | February 8, 2013 | Lean | Continuous Improvement, Lean
Performance Measurement in Health Care
The world of health care is always changing and rightfully so with all the changes in the business world why would health care remain the same? However, despite some long-practiced, tried and true methods of assessing health care quality such as Donabedian’s structures method which focuses on processes and outcomes as well as the inception…
Mike Wilson | February 7, 2013 | Safety Solutions | Continuous Improvement, Healthcare, Lean
Disney Institute – Service Quality, Disney Style
There is US organization that continues to raise the bar through one-of-a-kind customer service, excellent dedication to continuous improvement and boundless levels of fun… do you know who we are talking about? Disney of course! Walt Disney World has been a longstanding innovator when it comes to solid business standards. Employees are happy and satisfied,…
Mike Wilson | January 29, 2013 | Lean | Lean
Strategic Planning with the Hoshin
Have you been searching for a way to revamp your business goals, boost employee involvement and work towards continuous improvement? If so, the hoshin process may be what you have been looking for. The origination of the hoshin process started back around 1976 at Hewlett-Packard within the Japan location. The name hoshin can be interpreted…
Mike Wilson | January 25, 2013 | Lean | Hoshin, Lean
Lean Posters
Lean manufacturing is a method used in factories to enhance productivity. As part of lean manufacturing, 5S strategies are quite common sense and you would expect the posters to be easily accepted in an organization. However, it is not that easy to change working habits. As a result, factory managers may decide to use lean posters to…
Mike Wilson | January 15, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Lean Posters
The Concept of Muri, Muda and Mura
Since the starting of the industrial age, companies are continuously putting all their efforts to get the best ways to improve their overall production method whilst guaranteeing the incomparable quality for their products. Hence, in order to make companies achieve best methods to improve their production quality, the concept of Muri, Muda, and Mura introduced.…
Mike Wilson | January 2, 2013 | Lean | Lean, Muda, Mura, Muri
Everything You Need To Know About the 5S Audit
The 5S audit Check or 5S Organization Checklist is a bench-marking checklist that assesses how well a factory or an office is organized. It is based on the 5S principles which we will discuss shortly. A safe and productive workplace needs structure and discipline. That is the crux of the 5S audit. It provides a framework that…
Mike Wilson | December 26, 2012 | 5S | 5S, Lean
Knowing About the 5S Principles
The Kaizen or the 5S principles are one of the most successful business principles in use today. It is very versatile because it does not only help companies to enhance their performance within the workplace but in their personal lives as well. The unique aspect is that the principles can also be applied on a…
Mike Wilson | December 20, 2012 | 5S | 5S, Lean