Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on air gauging. Engineer and inventor Michel Dechape has updated the seminal work on the subject by V. R. Burrows.

From my experience, there are a handful of pull-system design steps. This column seeks to “simply” outline those steps and some of the math that should be considered. However, don’t let the brevity mislead you. It isn’t necessarily simple.

The number of students earning bachelor’s degrees in statistical science has more than doubled during the last five years, topping 1,000 for the first time in 2012, says Marie Davidian, president of the American Statistical Association (ASA).

Many managers ask me, “How can I accelerate my company’s lean transformation?” My answer is twofold: First get the direction right, and then get everyone rowing in that direction.