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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Best of Both Worlds

This Summer, we are offering a Hybrid version of Greenbelt. The Hybrid course is a combination of both Operations and Service Greenbelt programs.

This version of Greenbelt is ideal for all levels and industries, and is especially useful to those in manager level positions need to know the tactile applications of Lean but also need to understand how Lean on the shop floor feeds into applying Lean in processes that involve many customer touch points.

Below are some photos from the morning of the first day where the class is learning the foundational elements of how Lean came to be from a weaving loom in Japan to a world recognized business model.



 
Our classes always have team building and educational ice breakers. Lean Sensei's famous egg dropping ice breaker requires each team in the Greenbelt class to design an apparatus to protect a raw egg from the impact of a six foot fall. With only limited resources and a strict time limit, the class learns a fundamental quality of Lean. With a little creativity, you can do more than you think with what you have, without sacrificing quality.
 






 
No photo album would be complete without a group shot or two or three...
 


 
 
The next Greenbelt courses will be separated into Operations specific and Service specific. Both courses are scheduled for the Fall and are available in three cities:

FALL 2013
Greenbelt for Operations VANCOUVER FALL 20133 modulesVancouver
Module 1Sep 9-135 daysVancouver
Module 2Sep 30-Oct 45 daysVancouver
Module 3Oct 28-Nov 1 5 daysVancouver
Greenbelt for Service VANCOUVER FALL 20133 modulesVancouver
Module 1Sep 23-275 daysVancouver
Module 2Oct 21-255 daysVancouver
Module 3Nov 18-22 5 daysVancouver
Greenbelt for Operations TORONTO FALL 20133 modulesToronto
Module 1Sep 30-Oct 45 daysToronto
Module 2Oct 28-Nov 15 daysToronto
Module 3Dec 2-65 daysToronto
Greenbelt for Operations CALGARY FALL 20133 modulesCalgary
Module 1Oct 7-115 daysCalgary
Module 2Nov 4-85 daysCalgary
Module 3Dec 2-65 daysCalgary

To register, visit: http://lsifuture.com/register

Friday, May 24, 2013

Solutions and Sustainment: The Importance of Listening

“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.”
                ― Bernard M. Baruch
 The importance of really listening to the issues surrounding the process directly with the person/people involved is paramount to a successful Kaizen. Going to the Gemba and seeing for yourself is key but the process owner is the one that deals directly with the issues on a daily basis. How could you improve the flow of feedback from your organization?
 
An organization from our most recent Florida Lean Tour in February uses a visual board to continually gain feedback from staff. At short daily meetings, this feedback is heard and then action steps are discussed and visually tracked using red, green and yellow squares. Accountability is promoted as employee photos are provided beside their action items. 





Example SOP for daily huddle:
 
 
 
This organization in healthcare uses a very simplified feedback board in which medical professionals can simply leave opportunities for change where it will be further discussed at meetings, moved to action and resolved.
 
 
An in-house Kaizen taking place at a Vancouver organization this week focuses on gaining feedback from employees and finding solutions.
 

 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Lean Sensei's First Video Podcast!

Welcome to the first edition of the Lean Sensei Video Podast! That's right, soon you'll be able to get Lean tips of the trade right at your finger tips. Tentatively titled Random Podcasts as this is exactly what it is, this video series embodies the versatility of Lean: anywhere, anytime. If you have a continuous improvement mindset, you know that it is not always vital to call an official brainstorm meeting then officially implement the solution. Sometimes you're suddenly inspired and the solution only takes a second to implement.

That spontaneity is the atmosphere of these podcasts. Lean Sensei coaches sit down and elaborate on Lean topics that come to mind on the spot. We hope that you enjoy this candid approach and feel as though you are right there with the coaches having a chat about all things Lean.

If you have any burning questions about Lean email us at Jennifer@leansensei.com or in the comments section below. Your questions will be addressed in subsequent podcasts.

Currently, our Itunes profile is under development so we will start by posting the content on our blog similar to a beta test. Your feedback is welcome and can also be directed to Jennifer@leansensei.com

Enjoy the first podcast!

Part 1 (part 2 follows below)


Part 2

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

5 Weeks Until the Lean Summit!

Only 5 more weeks until the Lean Summit! We are very excited as the last time we held our Lean conference was in 2009. This year will also be a gathering of like-minded Lean Leaders. Dr. Liker and Mike Hoseus will have full day workshops on Day 1 and 2 while, speakers from industry will share their real Lean journeys on Day 3.

This conference falls under Lean Sensei's Executive Leanbelt program and will yield 3 credits towards Executive Leanbelt certification.

Executive Lean Leader - attain 6 credits
Executive lean Director - attain 10 credits
Chief Lean Officer - attain 15 credits


Ice Breakers and Team Building


2009 Mike Hoseus' one day workshop
 
2009 Industry Speaker, John Rose of NuHeat

If you haven't registered yet you can still secure your spot on http://leansummit2013.com/register
The Lean Summit will be your chance to interface with the gurus of Lean, Dr. Liker and Mike Hoseus.

Call our office at 604-264-1000 or email Jennifer@leansensei.com to find out how many Executive credits you have accrued.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Toyota Lean Leadership is on the Way!

5 more weeks until the Lean conference of the year!
And Dr. Liker's newest book, The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership will be available at Lean Sensei's Lean Summit, June 18-20, 2013. In this new title, Dr. Liker clearly differentiates leadership from Lean Leadership and how to evolve to this level of leadership. Lean Leadership evokes deeper engagement from employees by applying a coaching methodology. Essentially, Lean leaders cultivate a workforce of problem solvers.

The essentials Toyota Culture and The Toyota Way will also be available at the Summit. The books will be arriving hot off the press in a couple of weeks. Lean Coach, Jake can't wait!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Photo of the day

Taken at a beach just 10 min from our office....

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Greenbelt CTR Kaizen Day 2

Greenbelt candidates interview a process owner with their value stream map as focal point.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Blackbelt Graduation - Spring 2013

The much awaited results from this Spring's Blackbelts, drumroll, please.

This class achieved a total savings of $9,958,645. This is the sum of all the individual projects including onsite kaizen blitz.

Congratulations!
More photos on Lean Sensei's Facebook page: http://facebook.com/leanthinking


The 3 medalists (left to right: Domenic left, Rainey, Mike right)


Executive Leanbelt attendee, Peter Wong achieves Lean Leader Executive Leanbelt certification



Guess who??
Lean Sensei's President and Master Coach, David Chao and Lean Coach, Jake Cameron offer an inspirational speech but also have a little fun at the graduation ceremony


Blackbelt graduating class of Spring 2013


The Lean Sensei team (left to right): Jessie, David, Andrew, Jake and Sarah

Each module the Blackbelts must create a movie summary of the module. Here is the video for the Japan trip module, where the Blackbelts see firsthand what Lean looks like in action both in industry and in daily life.




Monday, May 6, 2013

6 more weeks until The Lean Summit!




Only 6 more weeks until The Lean Summit!
It has been four years since Dr. Liker was in Canada. Earlier this year Dr. Liker released his new book, The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership. Leadership is also the topic of Lean Sensei's conference.

Join with like-minded Lean leaders and learn what leadership truly entails. Specifically, the difference between leadership and Lean Leadership. The third day of the conference will showcase presentations from six industry speakers. These speakers have spearheaded the Lean initiative at their home organizations and will share with you their successes and how they are continuously improving each day.

Read up on these Lean leaders from aerospace, medical device manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, transportation and power systems.