In a January 18, 2017 press release,[1] the Directors of the Small Business Excellence Award Program announced the selection of the Lean Learning Center for the 2016 Troy Small Business Excellence Award in the Adult Education classification. The Award Program honors small businesses that demonstrate excellent marketing success, community involvement, and innovative business practices in the [...]
There’s no question that key performance indicators (KPIs) are needed to help drive operational improvements. KPIs are absolutely essential for organizations to present performance information for all levels of the organization. The key to success is selecting KPIs that will deliver long-term value to the organization. It’s problematic that the terms KPI and metric are used interchangeably within [...]
In part one of this series, I focused on hard lessons learned by Kodak, who had the technology and capability for the first digital camera back in 1975, but was beat to the digital market by their competition because they became complacent with their monopoly in the 35mm camera market. It certainly was a sad lesson, [...]
At the root of lean principles is the ability to define and provide the exact needs of the customer. Lean Learning Center offers professional guidance for businesses with a desire to better themselves. Lean principles are not just for new businesses trying to implement efficient processes, nor is it solely for failing businesses in need of [...]
Frontline managers see everyone in your company every day. If your frontline team spends more than 60 minutes of their day increasing value added from their team you are ahead of the average. Ask yourself: Of the salaried headcount, what percentage are frontline managers? How many associates are they connecting with daily? Of 600 minutes at [...]
A leisure activity for all of us, but also a source of research and study, business periodicals help keep us in the know. There is a heap of them, and they can be more palatable than manuals, graphs and reports. We read them to keep up with developments in the industry and to live the adventure [...]
Red straw trap: Success sticks you to the past Josh Linkner, Detroit Free Press June 18, 2016 In 1953, three employees of the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company created a mixture to protect missile skins. It didn't work. They tried again – no luck. And again, and again. Finally, on the 40th try, they were successful. [...]
During a recent manufacturing forum one of the most consistent problems we heard about from companies of every size was the consistent struggle to find and retain skilled personnel. Here are some of the proven methods we use to promote retention. Provide engaging and meaningful work. Be sure each employee truly understands the value of their [...]
I hope this got your attention because it certainly got mine as I recently listened to Dennis Pawley, former Executive Vice President of Chrysler Automotive Manufacturing and an original co-founder of The Lean Learning Center, reflect on his near fifty-year career working to change American business. As he reflected, he shared a story of one of [...]
