You’re ready to make your CI dreams a reality but where should you begin (apart from starting at the top)? Organization-wide culture change can be a long and winding journey, […]
7 Deadly Sins of Continuous Improvement
Every organization starts its continuous improvement journey with enthusiasm, excitement, and the best intentions. After assessments are completed and a vision for the future is established, organizations can still stumble […]
Leadership Service Immersion 4-Day Workshop
This 4-day interactive workshop is designed to develop key mindsets, approaches and skills to support business where continuous improvement is integrated into daily operations. Participants will learn and practice; principles […]
Sunrise Shine 5S
5S has been around for years, but more often than not it is misinterpreted. 5S typically turns into 1S- cleaning and while that is certainly part of the system, there […]
5S Thinking and Strategy Deployment, say what!
By Steven Hirt
It’s that time of year where we begin to think about the future and our strategy for getting there. If you are using Strategy Deployment or Hoshin Kanri principles […]
Training Within Industry (TWI) – SOUTHERN Wisconsin – Job Methods
One course of Optima’s three-course TWI Certification Program, this one-day workshop focuses on the skills required to improve and document current production/work methods. These skills, traditionally thought of as lean […]
Coaching excellence and being the best version of yourself
By Steven Hirt
I was recently listening to a Norman Bodek podcast on the Harada Method and coaching excellence. He spoke of Kyocera and its Chairman Kazou Inamori which I found intriguing and […]
What’s the problem you are trying to solve?
By Steven Hirt
Way too often organizations are pursuing the benefits of the Toyota Production System or Lean Enterprise by trying to imitate or copy others. While there is value in understanding what […]
Leader Standard Work for LEAN LEADERSHIP
By Christian Wolcott
What is your standard as a Manager or a Leader? Some insight; in vibrant, progressive organizations that strive to integrate continuous improvement with running the business, you need to be […]
Value Stream Mapping in the Office
As a manufacturer, you’ve most likely used many of the lean tools to help you eliminate waste and variation in your processes. Organizations sometimes struggle on how to improve processes […]
