New Year’s Resolutions and Habits (written in 1989)
by Allen Rathey Have you made any resolutions lately? Just asking the question makes me very uncomfortable and probably has the same effect upon you. The pain stems from the fact that this form of "commitment" is known to have [...]
When Components Compete, Systems Collapse
In a well-organized system all the components work together to support each other. In a system that is well led and managed, everybody wins. This is what I taught Japanese top management and engineers beginning in 1950. If by [...]
Quality or Quantity?
When cleaning, is it quality or quantity that counts? Dr. Bill Bellows, a member of our council, writing in the Lean Management Journal said: “The word ‘quality’ has Latin roots,…
A System as Orchestra
"An example of a system, well optimized, is a good orchestra. The players are not there to play solos as prima donnas, each one trying to catch the ear of the listener. They are there to support each other. Individually [...]