Articles

Want Different Results? Change the Right Behaviors

A supply chain director recently expressed to me his frustration that his new integrated business planning was ineffective. “We have spent so much time and money defining the new process, the reports we were going to use, and the monthly meetings we would hold. Even after all that, the only people who use the new system seriously are the ...

Read Full Article

An Inflection Point

A few months ago, I had the chance to visit two companies that the Shingo Institute uses as “benchmark” companies. Both of these companies started their Lean journey about 20 years ago. Both companies received the Shingo Prize about 10 years ago. And both companies have continued their journey seeking perfection since receiving the Shingo...

Read Full Article

Shingo in Juran’s Quality Handbook

In 1980, I graduated from my MBA program and accepted a position with a small, high-tech, Japanese-owned, electronics company. I spent the next few years learning how to make really complicated products. In December of 1980, I purchased several books to facilitate the learning process. One of these books was the quality reference book, Ju...

Read Full Article

Is it Wrong to Always be Right?

We like to be right. To have correct answers, to solve problems of others, to be seen as experts on a variety of topics. This pattern starts early – long before we ascend corporate ladders and assume positions of influence and leadership. Starting in elementary school, we begin the laborious task of storing large amounts of information...

Read Full Article