Content by Bruce Hamilton
Bump and GrindForcing lean on a fundamentally broken system
Wed, 03/09/2016 - 16:25
Here’s a personal reflection from my distant past that might describe a current state for some of you.
When I began working in manufacturing during the pre-lean era, the quoted lead time for my company’s products averaged 12 to 16 weeks. By the…Ludicrous SpeedWhen it comes to information, fast doesn’t mean lean
Tue, 02/16/2016 - 12:51
Mel Brooks fans will remember Spaceballs, his jocular jibe at the Star Wars franchise. In pursuit of a rebel ship, evil Lord Dark Helmet (played by Rick Moranis) orders his crew to accelerate their craft beyond the speed of light to “ludicrous…Another Use for Duct TapeSolving the true problem behind the problems
Tue, 01/19/2016 - 16:06
This is an article inspired by the glut of recent football weekends. Lou Holtz, the legendary college and pro football coach, offers the following advice to coaches everywhere: “I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask…Seven Mistake-Proofing Mistakes That Promote CynicismWhy <em>poka-yoke</em> isn’t seen as purposeful
Mon, 12/21/2015 - 13:47
A piece of popular lore, provided by Shigeo Shingo, is that the original name for mistake-proofing (poka-yoke) was actually fool-proofing (baka-yoke). Shingo chided managers at Panasonic for using the latter term, as it disrespected workers by …Lazy Lean GuyHonest work needn’t be painful
Mon, 11/23/2015 - 11:23
In 1987, shortly after I became a manufacturing manager, the shop foreman at the time warned me about a young assembler. “Watch out for Michael,” the foreman said. “He tends to bend the rules. You may need to talk to him.”
In fact, I did watch…Burning PlatformNext stop, <em>The Twilight Zone</em>
Mon, 10/05/2015 - 17:12
A favorite Twilight Zone episode that played during Labor Day weekend put me in mind of the stressful “push production” environment that many organizations still endure today.
In a technical sense, push production refers to launching orders into…Putting the Pieces TogetherWe need to look at the whole pie
Tue, 08/11/2015 - 14:19
Summer is here and that means a family vacation to the beach, the boardwalk, and the Hamilton’s favorite pizza place. We all agree that Manco’s pizza is the best anywhere, but we differ on the reason why.
My brother, Geoff, thinks it’s the cheese—…Up, Back, and AroundLearn to trust everyone on your team
Mon, 07/20/2015 - 13:35
Watching the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team take the World Cup on July 5, 2015, caused me to reminisce about my short-term coaching stint of a U12 soccer team.
Before becoming a coach, I hadn’t played soccer or even watched a game, but there…Precisely WrongRemembering Eli Goldratt
Tue, 07/07/2015 - 12:03
June 11, 2015, marked the fourth anniversary of the passing of someone who, although not typically credited as a “lean” thinker, nevertheless had a profound effect on many lean implementers. Eliyahu Goldratt, or Eli, was an Israeli physicist whose…Shigeo Shingo’s P-D RatioIf ‘frenetic’ describes your work atmosphere, take the higher path to just-in-time production
Mon, 06/08/2015 - 14:37
The last few weeks for me have been all things Shingo, including a presentation at the Shingo Institute’s International Conference three weeks ago in Provo, Utah, followed by four days of Shingo Institute workshops at Vibco in Richmond, RI.…