Webinar on Digital Improvement Boards
KaiNexus webinar by Greg Jacobson and Mark Graban: Taking Improvement Boards Digital: How Leading Companies are Improving Visual Management
May 16, 2017•57 min
KaiNexus: Continuous Improvement, Leadership, and More
The KaiNexus Continuous Improvement Podcast features content from our webinars. We also share conversations with KaiNexus team members and customers from time to time.
This podcast brings you information about continuous improvement best practices, employee engagement, lean, six sigma (and related improvement disciplines) and more. Join us as we explore the nuances of creating a culture of continuous improvement, no matter your level of expertise or your industry.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
How Software Makes Gemba Walks More Effective
We get the chance to chat with a lot of frontline employees, managers, and executive leaders about all aspects of continuous improvement. We love to learn about how organizations are using the techniques and tools of Lean and other methodologies to improve results and reach their most important business goals. Gemba Walks are a practice that comes up quite a bit. Some leaders find them to be incredibly effective and welcomed by managers and staff alike, while others find them to be a chore with ...
May 16, 2017•5 min
The Improvement Journey at St. Clair Hospital
Last month, our friends Tania Lyon and David Yeager presented at the Carnegie Foundation Summit on Lean in Education on their research and experience in spreading a culture of continuous improvement. Tania Lyon has been a KaiNexus customer for the last couple of years, and has led her team to accomplish some astounding results in her position as Director of Organizational Process Improvement. David Yeager is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and a Faculty Research Associate at UT Austin and w...
May 15, 2017•12 min
Webinar Preview - Digital Improvement Boards
In this podcast, Mark Graban and Dr. Greg Jacobson chat about their upcoming webinar on May 16 -- learn more at http://kainexus.com/webinars Taking Improvement Boards Digital: How Leading Companies are Improving Visual Management In this webinar you will learn: Why people use improvement boards Challenges to using physical boards How digital boards solve these challenges Examples of effective digital boards Using boards to manage strategy deployment
May 12, 2017•7 min
10 Truths and 1 Lie About Standard Work
A popular ice breaker in business meetings these days is 3 Truths and 1 Lie. Each person says three true things about themselves and one made up thing and everyone tries to guess which is the lie. We thought that 10 truths and 1 lie would be a good way to introduce Standard Work. Can you guess which is which?
May 12, 2017•5 min
Continuous Improvement Software eBook
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you are probably aware by now that we produce a lot of educational material about continuous improvement methodologies, leadership, engagement strategies, and how to spread an improvement culture. Today we will look at an excerpt from our latest eBook, An Introduction to Continuous Improvement Software.
May 11, 2017•9 min
Evidence of Lean in Best Hospitals
We expect that the best organizations are continuously improving. We hope they are using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other methodologies to engage everybody in continually reinventing and improving what they do and how they do it.
May 10, 2017•11 min
Introduction to Kaizen Software
The practice of Kaizen along with the Six Sigma and Lean business process methodologies has been wide spread in manufacturing for decades. More recently other sectors have realized that the practices and principles of Kaizen can accelerate improvement in almost any organization. Like manufacturers, leaders in every industry from construction to higher education are leveraging Kaizen software to support and perfect their efforts to execute on more opportunities for improvement. For those who are ...
May 08, 2017•7 min
Common Questions about CQI
We have noticed a theme to many of the conversations that weâve been having with clients and at the events we have attended lately. Lots of folks have questions about the concept of Continuous Quality Improvement or CQI for short. We have put together some answers to the questions we are asked most often and even a few that people do not ask, but they really should.
May 05, 2017•7 min
Big Hairy Audacious Results
We are not saying that your CEO needs shave his or her head, but depending on your improvement goals (and your CEOs attachment to their locks) it might be a great idea! To explain, back in 2016 KaiNexus set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal, known as a BHAG. A BHAG is a daunting, clear, and compelling goal an organization sets, which should not be financially driven, but it should be something that if the organization achieves it, would really move the needle forward and indicate the organization has a...
May 04, 2017•5 min
Introduction to Process Control Charts
Donald J. Wheeler, PhD is a world-renown expert in continuous improvement, having worked with W. Edwards Deming and later writing the classic book Understanding Variation. Wheeler once wrote and said, Statistical Process Control is, at its heart, about getting the most from your processes. It is about the continual improvement of processes and outcomes. And it is, first and foremost, a way of thinking... with some tools attached.
May 03, 2017•8 min
9 Ways a Lean Management System Propels Positive Change
I was at a neighborhood gathering the other day when I ran into an old friend who I had not seen in years. She asked me what I had been up to, so I told her a bit about my role at KaiNexus and mentioned that we have software that helps companies achieve success with business methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma. She said that she figured they just used spreadsheets and email.
Apr 28, 2017•3 min
8 Standard Work Blunders You Can Absolutely Avoid
Standard work is a term that practitioners of a continuous improvement methodology such as Lean, Kaizen or Six Sigma have probably heard before. It is simply a detailed written description of the most efficient and effective way known to complete a particular process or task, safely, with the highest quality result.
Apr 27, 2017•5 min
Personal Leadership at the Nexus of Lean and Zen
Webinar presented by Kevin Meyer, hosted by Mark Graban. In this webinar you will learn: The fascinating overlap between Lean and Zen. How to use that overlap to calm everyday chaos. How to become more productive by identifying and optimizing the best part of your day. How to grow as a person - and a leader. About the Host: Kevin Meyer is a co-founder and partner at Gemba Academy. He has over 30 years of manufacturing leadership experience in the automotive lighting, telecom electronics, and med...
Apr 25, 2017•54 min
16 Questions to Ask on Your Next Gemba Walk
During a Gemba walk, supervisors and leaders go to the place where work is done (the Gemba). They observe (not fix) processes and activities and ask questions that will help lead to future improvements. Why? - is certainly an important question, but it is by no means the only one. We have put together a list of other questions that may be useful, especially if you are new to Gemba walks or if you are taking a look at a process for the first time.
Apr 24, 2017•6 min
Kevin Meyer Webinar Preview
Kevin Meyer from Gemba Academy, author of the book "The Simple Leader" will be giving a webinar for KaiNexus on April 25. Register at http://www.kainexus.com/webinars The title is "Personal Leadership at the Nexus of Lean and Zen." We hope you can join us or check out the recording.
Apr 21, 2017•13 min
How We Use Kaizen and KaiNexus to Improve the Podcast
"How KaiNexus Uses Kaizen and our KaiNexus Software to Improve: Podcast Episode Numbers" A blog post by Mark Graban
Apr 21, 2017•8 min
How Hoshin Kanri Can Help You Predict the Future
Keep doing what you are doing and you are going to get what you are getting. Few would argue that the logic rings true, but unfortunately, this idea is often ignored when it comes to strategic business planning. Executives huddle in a room, analyze budgets, set revenue goals, and predict great success without fundamentally changing the conditions that led to the business results they are experiencing today. A year later, or a quarter later, everyone wonders why nothing has changed.
Apr 20, 2017•5 min
DMAIC for Beginners
The DMAIC technique is simple, yet powerful. It brings structure to the improvement process and helps teams explore potential solutions, decide a course of action, and implement process controls in short order. Trying any new improvement strategy can be intimidating, so we thought it would be helpful to break down all the details of DMAIC so that you can give it a try with confidence.
Apr 19, 2017•6 min
Customer Spotlight of Mohawk Fine Papers, Ben Whitaker
In our first KaiNexus "customer spotlight," Mark Graban talks with Ben Whitaker, Director, Business Process Management at Mohawk Fine Papers. We talk about their use of KaiNexus, how they are changing the culture, and more.
Apr 13, 2017•52 min
Lean Leadership and Sustainment Q&A
KaiNexus has a webinar series called Ask Us Anything, in which our CEO and Co-founder Greg Jacobson and Mark Graban, our Vice-President of Improvement & Innovation Services and founder of LeanBlog.org, join forces to answer questions KaiNexus webinar listeners ask. In this post, we will look at two questions and answers from a recent webinar.
Apr 11, 2017•6 min
Common Conceptions That Hinder Continuous Improvement
I have been debating with myself over whether to use the word conceptions or misconceptions in this post. I decided to go with conceptions because I do not know whether these frequently held beliefs are accurate or not within your organization. We do know from countless conversations with our customers that they are devastating to a culture of improvement whether they are true or not. Here is how you can combat them, in either case.
Apr 10, 2017•6 min
Why Host Training & Classes in Your Improvement Platform?
Any good continuous improvement platform empowers you to improve in any way you see fit, rather than forcing you to subscribe to one particular methodology. That means people use the software to support a ton of different types of improvement work - including improvement-related certification classes.
Apr 06, 2017•5 min
The 5 Worst Things You Could Do When Using the DMAIC Framewo
If you’re using the Six Sigma methodology to create change and sustain continuous improvement in your organization, you’re likely using, or will use, DMAIC (pronounced "de-may-ick"). DMAIC is an acronym that outlines a framework for identifying and challenging sources of waste, poor quality, and inefficient processes and then looking for opportunities for improvement. DMAIC is best used when an existing product or process fails to meet performance expectations or otherwise leaves customers unsat...
Apr 05, 2017•7 min
Ask Us Anything, Episode 12
Mark Graban and Dr. Greg Jacobson address your questions on: - Getting front line staff to embrace Kaizen and continuous improvement as a win/win - Getting leaders and executives to buy in to continuous improvement - What's your process for planning a kaizen event?
Apr 04, 2017•31 min
Improvement Consultants: How to Track Your Impact
Tracking the impact of a continuous improvement program is one of the most difficult challenges that an incoming consultant may face. As difficult as tracking impact is, it is also one of the most important metrics to measure. Organization leaders want to see a return on their investment of a consultant and being able to capture the results of the improvement program is the easiest way to do so.
Apr 04, 2017•3 min
Idea Boards: A Case for Change
Behind every improvement technique and tool, there is a winning spirit. There is no downside to the ideas that processes can always be made better and that positive change is the business of everyone. But today we are going to focus on one common improvement tool, the idea board, and make the case that there is a better way. After all, why would the force of Kaizen not be applied to improvement itself?
Mar 30, 2017•6 min
The 10 Worst Things You Can Do on a Gemba Walk
Gemba walks can be one of the most enjoyable and powerful learning opportunities for leaders, but only if they are done in a way that promotes learning and avoids creating tension between managers and frontline staff. I have written about Gemba walks before, but I wanted to delve deeper into what NOT to do on Gemba walks. If your Gemba walks aren’t going as well as hoped, or if they are causing tension on the front lines, be sure you are not making any of these mistakes:
Mar 29, 2017•8 min
Webinar - How to Coach for Creativity & Service Excellence
Hosted by KaiNexus and Mark Graban In this webinar, you will learn: - What creativity is (and isn't) and what service excellence is (and isn't) - Why changing behavior first leads to mindset changes, not the other way around! - How to develop creative problem solving and critical thinking skills in daily 15 min coaching sessions - How using creativity combined with The Toyota Way to Service Excellence principles delivers peak service experiences for customers About the Presenter: An experienced ...
Mar 28, 2017•1 hr
Lean Construction FAQs
As you can probably tell from reading this blog or others about the Lean approach to business management, most of what is written about the subject is applied to manufacturing and healthcare organizations. We know, however, that its application is not that limited. We have clients in technology, education, agriculture, professional services, and more. One sector that is starting to embrace the Lean approach with increasing enthusiasm is construction. We have been delighted to see a new level of ...
Mar 28, 2017•5 min
Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android