Twas the night before Kaizen

  ​Twas the night before kaizen when all through the value stream, not a value added activity was flowing not even engineering.  Stickies were hung on the wall with great care, In hopes that Lean Strategies International would soon be there.
  The teams thought of processes, visions and hoshin kanri while waste sat in the value stream acting quite ornery.  Transportation, inventory and even some waiting... their work would be hard, but with ©Treat 1,2,3 in their toolbelt the waste was not so large.  Somewhere in the process of examining, a constraint showed up. The team ran to the gemba to see what was up.  They grabbed their cameras, glasses and measuring tape, only a moment would pass before they had their current state.  With review and examination not far behind a future state was almost ready, the improvements close behind.  
  Those team members were passionate, lively and quick it became very obvious this was not St. Nick.  More rapid than eagles they wrote up their action plan, they whistled and shouted while improvements began.  "Now kanban! Now 5S! Now TPM and Standards!  To the top of the metrics to the top of the charts." They improved like crazy while employees bought in.  Shortly thereafter the transformation came to an end.  
  The plant stood there watching as the consultants walked out, not a word of a purchase order not a face with a pout.  Certificates, belts and knowledge in hand this plant became another successful lean six sigma land.  Shortly thereafter the events continued on, kaizen had begun and it was far from gone.  With tools, methods and strategy held tight in their belt, the organization realized quickly Lean Strategies was there to help.  The coaches turned with a smile and a tilt of their ear we all felt their good spirit and joyous holiday cheer. Whether Lean, Six Sigma or Kaizen, every strategy takes time for new culture and behavior to set in.  But as the minutes turned to hours, organizations found solutions igniting their powers.  As the new year approaches and strategy begins remember Lean Strategies will help you earn the wins.  As we close out this holiday week and approach the new year we just want to wish a Happy holiday to each of you and a joyous New Year.