LSI Japan Lean Tour is about to start

Next week is the beginning of LSI's most respected and admired program of all: the Japan Lean Tour. Designed to immerse participants into "everyday lean living", participants learn so much about the true meaning of lean.  Our schedule includes benchmarking trips to Toyota, Nissan, Toyota Forklift, Toto, Mitsubishi and more. For many, the experience it will be a life changing experience! Expect a lot of microblogging throughout the next week.


We are extremely excited to be back in Japan for our 25th Japan Lean Tour! 

Your decision

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact in the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

Jane Goodall

Greenbelt Operations Spring Graduation

8 more participants have mecome Greenbelt certified in Vancouver on Thursday April 5th. Congratulations!!

Our LSI coach, Andrew McFadyen, spent the week with them for their final module. We wish them all the best on their lean journey ahead!





Joseph, the youngest of all, made the first grad speech.

Dean, with long experience with his company, made the second grad speech.



Check out their Graduation Movie! Charlie's Lean Journey!!





Discussion with Toyota, BMW executives

David Chao is having an interesting day today visiting the Vancouver Auto Show, where he networked and talked about cars with executives from several automakers. As a member of the media, David was able to have some face-to-face time with people such as Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota, and Eduardo Villaverde, president of BMW Canada.

Greenbelt Operations Calgary Spring Module 2

Participants from the Greenbelt Operations Calgary Spring program were back from their 3-week hiatus to complete their Module 2! In this module, they learned Cycle Time Reduction methodology and implemented the hands on kaizen at the large manugacture in Calgary.  Job well done!!


Listening carefully to the hosting company's representative and trying to understand their expectation.



Blackbelt Supply Chain Training

This is the video from Blackbelt Supply Chain Training.

LSI introduces its own "ultra advanced" flexible LeanTablet!

LeanTablet will revolutionize the industry

For the first time in its history, Lean Sensei is introducing its own "ultra advanced" electronic tablet that will compete head-to-head with the biggest players in the industry.  Designed to provide maximum flexibility and versatility for lean champions and leaders, Lean Sensei's LeanTablet will revolutionarize the eTablet industry with the world's first flexible tablet that can be bent like a piece of paper.

Measuring only 0.1 inch thick and weighing less than tenth of a pound, the LeanTablet truly lives up to its name as the "leanest" electronic tablet in the world.  The LeanTablet is a product of more than three years of collaborative research and development with some of the brightest engineers from North America, Europe and Japan, including former R&D researchers from Toyota and BMW.  LSI's R&D team utilized latest lean methods including DFA (design for assembly), FLS (flexible lean system) and ALS (advanced lean strategy) to create this breakthrough product on time and under budget.

LeanTablet can be bent like a paper

The LeanTablet utilizes its own unique LeanOS system that was designed specifically to deliver seamless integration of office/business and consumer/personal attributes. This includes a 12.1 megapixel ultra-coated lens capable of producing SLR-like level of photography as well as a finger-print security access system.

"We are so excited to launch this product," says LSI's president David Koichi Chao, who kept the project completely secret even from its own staff as he worked virtually 24/7 with engineers from three continents. Mr. Chao further comments that "this product will change the way you manage your business and personal lives," and it is a byproduct of Mr. Chao's mission to "transform the world."

LSI's LeanTablet research team

The LeanTablet's price starts at $399 for 16GB storage and is available in white, yellow, green, and black, which correspond to the colors denoted in LSI's lean belt programs.

The LeanTablet is available immediately starting April 1, 2012.  The product is being assembled at LSI's state-of-the-art new headquarters in central Vancouver.

Greenbelt Operations Vancouver Winter 2012

Congratulations to our Greenbelt Operations Vancouver Winter 2012 participants!


15 participants became this year's first Greenbelt certified in Vancouver on Friday March 23rd. Our LSI coach, Bob Low, spent the week with them for their final module. We wish them all the best on their lean journey ahead!



Hi-ya!

  
Check out Their Graduation Movie! "Transform the World!"

We are Moving to a New Home!

Dear Clients

We’re very excited to share with you that LSI is moving to a new home. Our new office will be large enough to accommodate some of our workshops and programs. This move will allow us to improve client service and more readily stay connected with you during our in-class workshops and training.

During this week and most of next week, it may be difficult to contact us because of the move and transition of our telecommunications system. We appreciate your patience during our move as we may not be as responsive as we usually are, in returning your calls or emails. During the move , our current phone number (604) 264-1000 and toll free number 1-888-LSI-LEAN will temporarily be out of use. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding as we relocate to our new home. We expect to have access to email and this will be the best way to contact us.

Please note the following important information.

This week and next week – Monday March 19 Monday to Friday March 30th :

First try to call our usual number, 604-264-1000 or toll free number 1-888-LSI-LEAN (1-888-574-3298)

• These numbers may or may not be active this week and early next week

• If the phone rings and goes to voice mail, please DO NOT leave a message this week and next week at these numbers


Please note that email is likely the best way to contact us this week and next week. Once we are back on line and the move is complete, we will provide another update with the best way to contact us. We expect to our usual office numbers to be back in service.

Thank you once again for your patience. We look forward to seeing you in our new home and will update you with information on our new address and neighborhood.

David Chao, President
Lean Sensei International

Greenbelt Service Winter Module 2

It has been a very busy month for LSI. Just as our 'Operational Spring Greenbelts' were ending their second Module at a large manufacturer of heavy duty equipment, our  Winter Service Greenbelt class were arriving in Vancouver, for Module 2 of their program. One of the major tasks for this class will be a Process Time Reduction Assignment for a large financial institution.

Before they tackled the hands-on kaizen, they took part in an exercise, making paper airplanes with their teammates.



Bob is showing the participants how to make a paper airplane.

 



 Now, it's their turn to make airplanes as efficient as possible without overproduction and any defects.  Key pointsto take away from this exercise- Measure the cycle-time, balance the production line and always keep the customer demands in mind!





Japan Reflections

As some of you know, LSI was in Japan on March 11, 2011, and experienced one of the most emotional events in our history.  We had executives and Blackbelts with us, and were in the middle of a tour at Denso factory when the earthquake hit.  It's been one year since the quake but none of us can forget the tragedy and its impact on Japan and its people.

We are grateful that all of us were safe and were able to get back to our home country.  More importantly, our lives are forever changed after experiencing not just the earthquake, but seeing the amazing love and support the Japanese showed to everyone that was affected.  Japan - in many ways - is now stronger, tougher, more caring and more united than ever.

As we reflect on the one year anniversary of the March 11th tragedy, we would like to show some beautiful photos of Japan that we took during our lean tour.  We'd like to remember Japan for the outstanding things that come to mind - it's amazing people and the natural beauty of the country. 

Blackbelt 2012 Lean Assessment Module Overview

An overview video of Blackbelt Lean Assessment module: The group of Blackbelt participants underwent an intensive five-day strategy training.

In House Lean 101

David is extremely excited to take part in an internal Lean 101 for Service event launched at a local Credit Union today!

Lean 101 for Service workshop introduces the fundamental Lean methodologies which help the participants define Lean and apply basic Lean tools to their company culture. This session aims to prepare the participants for future kaizen events and inspires them to become team leaders of Lean within their organization.