2007 November :: Reforming Project Management

Archive for November, 2007

Newest Kaizen Book — by Shigeo Shingo

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

This is not a book review. That will come later. I'm only sharing the news that there is a new Shigeo Shingo book: kaizen and the Art of Creative Thinking. Norman Bodek gave me the chance to review an early version of the book. I'm quite impressed. I've wondered for quite some time if there is a systematic behind Toyota's success other than PDCA. We now all know the answer. Shingo developed an approach that helps everyone to be more creative. And that approach is readily learned.

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Inside the Mind of Toyota

Norman Bodek, Godfather of Lean

Traveling to KY with Norman Bodek

Meet the Godfather of Lean at IGLC-15

Kaizen Is about Making Small Change

Surprise! It’s a Lean Herrero at the 9th Lean Construction Congress

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

It's that time of year again. I'm attending the Lean Construction Congress in San Francisco. This is the 9th annual event. As usual, the focus is on companies who have adopted lean approaches for delivering AEC projects. The morning presentations have been great. Company presenters are doing a fine job speaking about the benefits they are getting and how the lean approaches and principles cause that to happen.

Becoming lean and being evermore lean is fundamentally about learning, not about lean.

It's a little early in the two days to be saying this, but what the heck… Herrero Contractors, not yet three years into their lean transformation, is the most advanced lean contractor in the US.¹ Herrero understands that becoming lean and being evermore lean is fundamentally about learning, not about lean. They seem to be learning everywhere and everyday.

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Full disclosure, they used to be our client. A year ago they hired away one of our staff members to be their Director of Learning…not Director of Lean. [ ⇑ back ]

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Herrero Contractors — Enthusiastic Lean Construction Leaders

Lean Construction Congress 2006

Not too Late to Attend the 7th Annual Lean Construction Congress

Welcome to Lean Contruction Congress 2006

Time to Get Serious About Learning

On the Side

Humility Makes Toyota Different
02/20/2008

From the Lean Insider: Speaking to Toyota employees at the Detroit Auto Show President Watanabe asked that they take responsibility for recent quality problems.

"I do not regard the problem as something that suppliers are responsible for. We must work together so that we are fully aware of where suppliers are."

Bernstein closes saying, "At Toyota, they know that doing the best job of serving the customer is what makes the company profitable."

Lean Project Management
02/19/2008

Brad Appleton reviewed Lean Project Management, by L Leach concluding, "I found Lean Project Management to be a fairly quick read providing a good overview of some TOC and CCPM fundamentals and how they align with Lean thinking."

Claude Emond, Guest Blogger
01/11/2008

I'm glad to have Claude posting at RPM. It was Claude who gave name to these wonder filled times -- the project age. Please welcome him with your comments.

Toyota Bests Ford in 2007
01/07/2008

WSJ reported, "Ford and GM reported lower December sales, capping off annual declines of 12% and 6%, respectively. Toyota's 2007 sales (in US) rose 3.1% even amid tough competition and signs that the U.S. consumer is beginning to labor in a slowing economy."

Brush-Up on Lean Thinking
01/07/2008

Re-familiarize yourself with the principles and practices of lean with Lean for Dummies. Do it to put yourself in new action!

Increase Reliability Saying No
10/14/2007

Make every "Yes" count, Learn to Say, "No".

White Mountains in Autumn
10/04/2007
Eat your heart out! Beauteous!

Tips for (Project) Managers
08/26/2007

Inside CRM offers The Manager's Cheat Sheet. Here are three of the best: