Jan 22 2015
When to Use “Kaizen Events” to Achieve and Sustain Results
This is a perennial topic in all groups related to Lean. In the TPS principles and practice discussion group on LinkedIn, Bertrand Olivar and Kris Hallan recently started new discussions on the sustainability of Kaizen event results and on the means of achieving them. Most contributors hold extreme positions, the majority saying that Kaizen events are a panacea, and a growing minority that they are worthless.
In this you-are-with-us-or-against-us atmosphere, it is a challenge to get a hearing for the nuanced position I hold, which I summarize as follows:
- Kaizen events are not part of TPS
- Kaizen events are a valuable tool
- Kaizen events are not a panacea.
- Content should dictate how projects are managed, not the other way around.
Because it is a recurring topic, I have already accumulated the a trail of posts about it, that are referenced at the end.
Feb 23 2015
EOQ Versus JIT Explained Through Coffee Beans and Raspberries
The “Plan for Every Food” in my household involves different policies for buying coffee beans and fresh raspberries. These simple examples show that thinking in terms of Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) isn’t always wrong, and Just-In-Time (JIT) isn’t always right. You need to set appropriate policies for screws, steel bars, engines, microchips, and all other items you may need, and review these policies periodically as circumstances change.
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By Michel Baudin • Policies • Tags: Economic Order Quantity, EOQ, JIT, Just-in-time