Lawrence Loucka, Author at

August 5, 2007Consulting, Lean, Lean Sigma, Sigma

PowerPoint and other miscommunications

Recently read Edward R. Tufte’s The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within and initially dismissed his thesis as troglodyte. Now […]

July 29, 2007December 25, 2014Definitions, Lean, Lean Sigma, Logistics, Supply Chain

Bow Wave

Keeping due dates straight in an MRP environment is a fundamental prerequisite. Plot a time series for the number of work orders, […]

July 26, 2007Consulting, Supply Chain

Supply Shortage

What to do when there’s an industry-wide shortage? Long Tern Agreements & relationship intimacy (get in bed) Prepay for process capacity, schedule […]

July 7, 2007September 25, 2017Definitions, Lean

Where to start? The 5 Rules of Lean DNA

Standardize process and standardize work Zero ambiguity Flow the process Speak with data Develop leaders who are teachers

July 5, 2007December 25, 2014Definitions, Lean, Lean Sigma

Hoshin X-Matrix

Over a few days or weeks we build the strategic deployment message by documenting our priorities and plans. This document is known […]

July 4, 2007January 11, 2022Definitions, Lean, Lean Sigma, Reviews

Hoshin Kanri

At long last we now have a number of recent readable guides for understanding and implementing policy deployment in your organization. My […]

April 30, 2007December 25, 2014Consulting, Definitions, Lean

Hansei

Hansei is a concept that Toyota uses as a practical improvement tool. Toyota actually conducts Hansei events, like Kaizen events, to improve […]

April 15, 2007January 13, 2018Consulting, Definitions, Lean

Nemawashi

In Japanese culture Nemawashi is an informal process of quietly laying the foundation for some proposed change or project, by talking to […]

March 25, 2007June 28, 2020Consulting, Definitions

Personal Plimsoll Line

Plimsoll Line (nautical) properly the International Load Line, a mark on the hull of a merchant ship to show the waterline under […]

March 15, 2007Consulting

Pearls before swine

Got notice today that a project I’ve been working diligently has been canceled, without cause and effective immediately. As a self-employed free-agent […]

March 9, 2007September 25, 2017Consulting, Lean Sigma