In July 2024, CrowdStrike rolled out a software update that crashed more than 8 million Windows systems worldwide. The faulty release disrupted hospitals, grounded flights, halted banking operations, and affected government services.

 Most of us have been there. A deadline whooshes by, a teammate consistently shows up late to meetings, or someone just isn’t pulling their weight. And what do we often do? We avoid the conversation, hoping the problem will magically resolve itself.

In my Labor Day article, “Celebrating Our Frontline Scapegoats,” I observed that of the seven wastes, the one most people recognize is defects.

Organizations today face a problem that’s both simple and enormous: They operate in a world that moves faster than the systems used to track it.

A vital concept from the chemical process industry, management of change (MOC) relates primarily to safety.

Organizations often face a familiar dilemma: It’s not a shortage of good ideas, but a struggle to decide which one to pursue first. During project prioritization meetings, leaders are likely to present a wide range of perspectives.

Over the years, there have been many developments in systems and technologies that have helped industries redefine how businesses are structured.

Manufacturers are making more types of products than ever before.

Most metals found in nature are actually in their oxide forms.

Everybody wants to have good measurements. To this end, many recommend a regular schedule of recalibration. While this sounds reasonable, it can actually degrade the quality of the measurements.