Start, Stop, Continue
Although not a Lean specific concept, “Start, Stop, Continue” is one way to gain quick feedback on process improvements and rapid experimentation. Typically “Start, Stop, Continue” is done in a group...
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Using Lean When Transitioning Into a New Job
This week’s post is a guest post from Heidi Reid, Executive Assistant in Human Resources and campus Lean Facilitator. It’s always a little stressful when one moves into a new job… What do you do with...
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Summer is a Perfect Time for Improvements!
Classes are over and the snow is melting, which can only mean one thing…Summer! The return of Summer means longer nights, vacations, and opportunities for improvements! The Office of Continuous...
View ArticleNetwork Drive 5S Best Practices
Most people practicing Lean know 5S–Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize and Sustain–and they know it can be applied to many things. Here at Michigan Tech we have applied this thinking to shared network...
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Trend Prediction
Hello, this is Elizabeth, one of the student process improvement coordinators at Michigan Tech. This semester one of the classes I am taking within the department of mechanical engineering is...
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Defining and Creating Customer Value
At the heart of Lean is a focus on the customer and a spirit of continuous improvement. In this post, I want to discuss the concept of customer value. Many people think they have a firm grasp on the...
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Lean and SMART
At some point in all of our lives we’ve had things we’ve wanted to achieve, whether it was in 1st grade and all you wanted was to be the best at shooting chocolate milk from your nose, or your very...
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Confirm Your Scope with SIPOC Diagrams
One of my favorite continuous improvement tools is called a SIPOC diagram. A SIPOC diagram is used by a team to identify all relevant elements of a process improvement project before work begins. Using...
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Learning to See
Remember the Magic Eye pictures? They appear to be computer-generated abstract images but, when you look at them just right, out pops a 3-dimensional (3D) object. The object was there all along, but...
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Instant Application for Workshop-Related Tool
We are pleased to present this guest blog post by Kathy Wardynski, Manager of Purchasing and Process Improvement for Dining Services at Michigan Technological University. Last week I had the...
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Satisfying Internal Customers: It’s Still Important
We are pleased to present this guest blog post by Gregg Stocker, a lean advisor for Hess Corporation with over 20 years experience in a variety of disciplines including operations, manufacturing, human...
View ArticleStart, Stop, Continue
Although not a Lean specific concept, “Start, Stop, Continue” is one way to gain quick feedback on process improvements and rapid experimentation. Typically “Start, Stop, Continue” is done in a group...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Satisfying Internal Customers: It’s Still Important
We are pleased to present this guest blog post by Gregg Stocker, a lean advisor for Hess Corporation with over 20 years experience in a variety of disciplines including operations, manufacturing, human...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Document Management – A 5S Opportunity
I was recently given the opportunity to be a Lean facilitator for a 5S Kaizen event. The goal of the event was to organize the Van Pelt and Opie Library staff document management system. I found this...
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The Perfect Cup of Joe
We are pleased to present this guest blog post by Annelise Doll, Digital Initiatives Librarian at the Van Pelt & Opie Library at Michigan Technological University. In the fall of 2015, I began...
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Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
Any college student from around the world will tell you how fast-paced and hectic it is trying to figure out the rest of your life. Between classes, student organizations, figuring out our financial...
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Lean – More than a Buzzword at Career Fair
As the career fair has passed and students anxiously await interviews and follow ups from company representatives, I’d like to take this time to remind students about how Lean principles are more than...
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Visual Management of PDCA Rapid Experimentation
We are pleased to post this guest blog by Theresa Coleman-Kaiser, Senior Associate Vice President for Administration at Michigan Technological University. I have been practicing online coaching using...
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