• Effectual vs. Efficiency

    Many people are positive about chasing out waste and reaping the benefits it would bring. However, this can be a cause for worry.  Even though many people remember damage caused by previous cost cutting campaigns, they still see cutting waste as a technique to increase efficiency. So why would people doing great work in chasing out waste…

  • Get Lean! (A Remedy to Crises?)

    While many of us are thinking about “losing a few pounds”, that is not the focus of this article. It’s about reducing “waste”, not “waist”.  The topic is “Lean” as it applies to efficiency and effectiveness of organizations.  Just as being lean is healthy for people, being Lean is healthy for organizations, including businesses, government, schools and not-for-profit institutions….

  • How ERP Can Help in Lean Implementation

    News reports over the last several months continue to paint a gloomy picture for today’s economy.  Rising material and labor costs, weak consumer spending, and the collapsing housing market are hammering businesses nationwide.  Many are looking for ways to re-engineer themselves in order to compensate for flattening growth.  To survive, one must do more with the resources they…

  • The 7 Wastes

    We are living through testing times… Our governments are being tested as they try to enact programs to instill confidence in the economy and their constituents. Companies are being tested as they are forced to react to dramatic challenges in the marketplace that have seemingly materialized overnight and without warning. Individuals are being tested in…