Will Driven to Delight Principles Work

Mercedes has the money. They have the luxury automobile. They can create a customer experience. What about us poor folks? Can we do something similar to Mercedes? – I asked that question of Joe Michelli the author of a new book, Driven to Delight, In the book’s first week, it has become a NY Times best-seller. Read More …

Are Demand-Driven Techniques Needed in Supply Chain Management

Chad Smith is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Constraints Management Group (CMG), a services and technology company specializing in pull-based manufacturing, materials and project management systems for mid-range and large manufacturers. We had a discussion is a past podcast on the Demand -Driven Techniques. Related Podcast and Transcription: New Thoughts in Supply Chain Thinking Read More …

Standard Work is Driven by Customers

Lean has reacted and supported the improvement of services through the foundation based on Deming’s 14 Points Applied to Services (Quality and Reliability). In Deming’s view, management was responsible for 85 percent of all quality problems and, therefore, had to provide the leadership in changing the systems and processes that created them. Management needed to Read More …

CAP-Do supports Outcome Driven Innovation

In a recent blog post, Lean Sales Process does not start at Plan or Build, I discussed how companies that apply Lean to Sales and Marketing think incorrectly in terms of PDCA versus Cap-Do. In the post, I stated: When we utilize the traditional cycle of PDCA, we start with Plan. We form a hypothesis Read More …

Can Lean be driven by Middle Management?

Paul Yandell:  I speak to middle managers, I was a resident with them. I think most of us have been middle managers and understand those frustrations. I hit on a theme of a guerrilla manager, years and years ago, and I’ve actually given a similar talk to a number of national and local forums. It Read More …

Data Driven Problem Solving Program

Steven C. Wilson, one of the leading Lean Six Sigma trainers in the state of Iowa has released a new program, Data Driven Problem Solving. The entire program can be downloaded as a PDF and MP3 on IowaQualityTraining.com. Data Driven Problem Solving includes a 100 page book with over 4 hours of audio. In addition, Read More …