Lessons From Mount Stupid
A few months ago, I was asked to conduct a Workshop, deliver a Keynote, and Chair a three-day Conference on Manufacturing Process Excellence in Europe, produced by the Process Excellence Network (PEX), a division of IQPC, and held in Munich, Germany. Although that was a lot to ask of me, the line-up of speakers and content…
Lean Management Journal – “Increase Quality, Increase Velocity” by Joseph Paris: September 2014
“Increase Quality, Increase Velocity”; LMJ Board Member and XONITEK’s Chairman, Joseph Paris, explores the financial industry’s attempts at lean and shows where the real savings have been made. Published in Lean Management Journal in the September 2014 issue. Download PDF
Operational Freedom: Trust and Independence in an Education System
Finnish Railways ran with steam power until the late 1960s. The cockpit of the locomotive offered a workplace for two: the engine driver and the shovel man. The shovel man’s duty was to continuously shovel coal to the red-hot mouth of the furnace to keep the engine steaming. The century-long idyll of the two man companionship…
Process Improvement For Small to Midsize Companies: Don’t Wait, Act Now!
Small to Midsize companies must consider a process improvement initiative sooner rather than later to uncover hidden opportunities for improved productivity and customer satisfaction. Why You Need Process Improvement and Enhanced Customer Experience Time and again, I have seen many processes across a variety of industries with an error rate in the range of 20-30%. Most…
Increase Quality, Increase Velocity – in Finance
Willie Sutton, a famous bank-robber during the mid-1900’s, was once asked why he robbed banks. Willie responded, “Because that’s where the money is.” Contrast that with a commercial on television I saw, several years ago (perhaps it was even in the 1990’s) from a major American bank. The President of the bank was speaking to the…
Complexity Creep Impact
It seems not too long ago, many businesses were only local and could be managed directly. However, in a quest to reduce costs and grow sales, businesses have graduated to global status. You might say this is great because the limited market once covered has now expanded exponentially and many more sources of supply have developed….