The West is Green

This week we kicked off Greenbelt in Calgary with a roster of high performers from the industries of oil and gas and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, the Operations Greenbelts are in the homestretch executing an Office Kaizen for module 3.

The next Greenbelt in Calgary starts October 7, 2013. Registration is open, register online at: www.lsifuture.com/register

Funny photo of the day...

From our Florida lean program....

Last day of the Florida Lean Tour

As we wrap up the lean tour here in Jacksonville, we are filled with inspiration, passion, and appreciation for everything about lean and the lives that have been transformed from the journey.

We are excited about the learnings and all of us are better equipped to become the next generation of lean evangelists. A big thank you to all of the hosts and the Jacksonville Lean Consortium for helping us with the tour.

We were delighted to hear about lean today from UL and our friend Jerry Bussell. Dr. Bahri dropped by to say good bye as well.

Thank you everyone !

Second day Florida Lean Tour

Second day of the Florida Lean Tour was a smashing success with visits to Saft battery company, Medtronic, and Jacksonville Sheriff's Department. We all learned a tremendous amount from the visits and the discussion.

Visit to Mayo Clinic

Our last visit today was the world-renowned Mayo Clinic - one of the leanest healthcare in the US. Amazing process, people and technology were the highlights.

Pilot Pen Factory

One of the most impressive plants in Jacksonville is the Pilot Pen factory - maker of the G2 gel pens. Truly impressive.

Florida Lean Tour Kicks-off!

We are just starting out Florida tour here in Jacksonville! First stop: Dr. Bahri - world's first lean Dentist!

We are excited for all the upcoming visits this week! We appreciate the contribution and support from the Jacksonville Lean Consortium.

Florida Lean Tour Starts in Less Than 24 Hours

The Florida Lean Tour for this year commences tomorrow!

Here's what our participants had to say last year:

I was so inspired and energized seeing how the Lean principles can be applied to improve products, service and offerings.

Success = Continuous improvement.

Traditional methods, will get you traditional results.

Often Lean is more about what you don't see, as it is about what you can see.

A good variety of companies providing a well round perspective of Lean with in the North American context.

You can still join North American tours happening this year in San Francisco and Vancouver and fill your Executive credits too:

San Francisco - July 22-23

Vancouver - November 26-27

Watch the video for a summary on how a North American Benchmarking Tour will help you: http://youtu.be/p2zBsJEpW3o

Register online at http://lsifuture.com/register

Email (info@leansensei.com) or call us at (604) 264-1000 for more information.
 



Process-Time Reduction

In a society when one of our major afflictions is time-poverty, timely delivery goes hand in hand with quality product. The theme for module 2 of Lean Sensei's Service Greenbelt is Process-Time Reduction.

This week, the Service Greenbelts will tackle the Flow of info of the back-end processes for a manufacturing company. These are the areas of the process that cannot be seen by the end customer but are just as important as the visible product.

However, before the Greenbelts go to the gemba, it is a full day of in-class training, including the airplane simulation.

Black(belt) Magic

Continuing with our play series, each module the Blackbelt class is assigned with a playful project to complete together. This project, is the creation of a movie summarizing the module. As expected, the movie contains many aspects of play from the module.

I hope you have as much fun watching the movie as our Blackbelts did making the movie.

It’s Not Just Child’s Play

Reconnecting with an old colleague earlier this year reminded us of the first Executive Program we launched in 2007 in Hawaii. Not long after the customary class introductions, I asked everyone to take off their shoes. By the bewildered looks on people’s faces I had a suspicion that even with the beautiful Pacific Ocean beckoning, the next task might be a little challenging.

“We’re going out onto the beach so you might want to take your shoes off”, I explained. A few people removed their shoes. Most didn’t. Cautiously we made our way to a sunny stretch of smooth sand. I assembled the class into teams and asked them to be the first to build the nicest sand castle. More blank stares came my way. “Do what?” a few people asked? “Build a sand castle”, I repeated. “You remember when you built sand castles, as a kid”. A few more people cautiously slipped off their shoes. Before long, the teams were molding their patch of sand, like children on summer vacation.

What this exercise underscores is that as adults, we tend to lose our sense of play or that this state of mind is difficult to cultivate in the workplace. Yet research has shown and continues to show that play is so important in our lives – and not just for children. Stuart Brown in his insightful book, “Play – How it shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul”, is a good primer on the importance of play, if you need convincing.

At Lean Sensei International, we incorporate a sense of play into our programs. From the class movie the Greenbelts create, to the Sensei’s Den in which our Blackbelts participate, to the seemingly trivial activities that are an integral part of our classes, I’ve found that a sense of play is a natural way for me to learn and enjoy learning. An organization’s progress to business excellence is fraught at times with difficulty and countless uphill battles. Playing lightens the load, puts things in perspective and does wonders to alleviate our stress levels.

Here’s what Stuart Brown has to share on this topic:

Play is a state of mind, rather than an activity. Play is an absorbing, apparently purposeless activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of self-consciousness and sense of time. It is also self-motivating and makes you want to do it again. Play creates new neural connections … an arena for social interaction and learning. The genius of play is that, in playing, we create imaginative new cognitive combinations. And in creating those novel combinations, we find what works.

Brian Sutton-Smith, Professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania offers this:

The opposite of play isn’t work. It’s depression. To play is to act out and be willful, exultant and committed as if one is assured of one’s prospects.

And who among us wouldn’t want our business approach to reflect this sense of exuberance and passion? How does a sense of play fit into your corporate culture? Is there an element of fun in the Lean training programs at your organization? How open are you to “playing”? Do play and work seem mutually exclusive to you?

Lean Your Supply Chain

Whether you produce the product, resell it or distribute it, you have customers and suppliers. You and your suppliers may be separate entities but the value you bring to your customers is affected by the performance of your distributers and suppliers too.

So how do Lean companies work with companies who have not yet "gone Lean?"
By sharing the wealth through education.
Lean 101 is a one day workshop that will give your suppliers, distributers, your stakeholders all the basics such as seeing value through the customer's eyes, 5S, hansei, flow, Lean culture, Lean problem solving among other essential Lean topics.

The first opportunity to take Lean 101 is in the spring on April 22, 2013.
Or join the session that is specially designed for Executives on June 17, 2013.
Register online at: http://lsifuture.com/register

Notice: Lean Sensei Website Down

Please be aware that our website (leansensei.com), including our online registration site, lsifuture.com/register is down at the moment as we are experiencing technical difficulties.
We expect the matter to be resolved soon, please refer to our blog for updates.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Lean Sensei International

Congratulations on Your Executive Lean Leader Certification!

Recently, Stu of Cascade Aerospace received his Lean Sensei Executive Lean Leader certification. Stu truly exemplifies the qualities of a Lean Leader. Not only does he keep himself up-to-date on Lean training, as demonstrated through his recent Executive Lean Leader certification, but he is a highly encouraging and inspirational Lean sponsor at his home organization.

In fact, Stu is being awarded his certificate at Lean Sensei's Winter Blackbelt kick-off. As always, Stu was there front and centre to demonstrate organizational support to those individuals who are taking on the high responsibility that accompanies Lean training.

How close are you to achieving Executive Lean certification?
Fill your credit requirements with these upcoming Executive courses (click here for a complete listing):

• Executive Lean For Finance - Mar 14-15 (Vancouver)
• Executive Japan Lean Tour - Apr 8-11 (Japan)
• Executive San Francisco Lean Benchmarking Tour - Jul 22-23 (San Francisco)
• Executive Lean for Sales - Oct 15-17 (Vancouver)
• Executive Vancouver Benchmarking Tour - Nov 26-27 (*Dates Subject to Change) (Vancouver)

Email info@leansensei.com or call (604) 264-1000 to find out how many credits you have earned to date.

Memory Lane: Blackbelt 2012

Already halfway through February is making us nostalgic. Every year Lean Sensei has 2 offerings of the very intensive Blackbelt certification program. Here is a video made by a member of the class who chose the role of movie editor. The movie director is responsible for managing the creation, production and completion of the class movie. This role as with the other Blackbelt roles rotate each module.

Enjoy!

After: Greenbelt Service 5S Kaizen Results

Finally, the long awaited results of last week's 5S kaizen. As a group,Greenbelt teams achieved:

1. 50% to 200% gain in work space
2. At least $150,000 savings per year from more efficiently organized work space (addresses waiting, transportation, inappropriate processing and unnecessary inventory of the 7 wastes)
3. Much cleaner and safer work environment
4. Much higher staff morale from having a cleaner and safer work environment
5. Great teamwork between Greenbelts and good engagement from hosting company workforce

Visit our website for the next Greenbelt certification dates.