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Aligning 5S and DMAIC for Process Improvement

By John Knotts - May 17th, 2024

All too often, process improvement coaching candidates struggle to find practical and effective process improvement ideas to use for their certification projects. I often recommend integrating two well-established methodologies: 5S and

Enhancing Organizational Efficiency through Supplier Process Improvement

By John Knotts - April 19th, 2024

In an increasingly interconnected business ecosystem, the performance of an organization is not solely determined by its internal processes but also by the efficiency and reliability of its suppliers. The concept of working closely wit

Process Improvement Across Industries

By John Knotts - March 15th, 2024

In the realm of business and organizational efficiency, understanding the nuances of process improvement across various industries is not merely an exercise in intellectual curiosity but a necessity. With 34 years of experience in this

Understanding the Customer Experience is a Keystone in Process Improvement

By John Knotts - February 16th, 2024

In the realm of business, the adage “the customer is always right” has evolved into a more nuanced understanding that “the customer’s experience is paramount.” As we dive deeper into the intricacies of cus

Embracing System-Level Problem Solving over Firefighting

By John Knotts - January 19th, 2024

In the dynamic landscape of business and organizational management, problem-solving is often equated with ad hoc firefighting – a reactive approach where individuals scramble to douse the flames of immediate issues. While this method

Harmonizing Organizational Excellence: A Fusion of Agile, Deming, and Toyota Principles

By Steve Kane - November 24th, 2023

In the quest for organizational excellence, many companies turn to established frameworks and philosophies to guide their journey. Among the prominent ones are the Agile Manifesto, Deming’s 14 Principles, and the Toyota Productio

Is Process Improvement Certification Right For Me?

By John Knotts - November 17th, 2023

Embarking on a journey of process improvement often leads to the crossroads of certification. Is obtaining a process improvement certification the correct path for you? This question resonates with many professionals who are eager to e

Robot humanoid using tablet computer for global network connection

Harnessing AI Large Language Models for Process Improvement

By John Knotts - October 20th, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s lips these days. In the realm of AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) are emerging as pivotal tools capable of understanding and generating human-like text. However, the capability extends fa

Are You Seeing Green?

By John Knotts - September 22nd, 2023

A “Green Process,” in the context of business and manufacturing, refers to a method or strategy that is designed to have a minimal negative impact on the environment. This can encompass a wide range of efforts aimed at redu

Completing A Kaizen Event is the Beginning, Not the End of an Improvement

By Steve Kane - September 22nd, 2023

In the world of business, the term “Kaizen” has garnered attention for its transformative power. Originating from Japan, Kaizen means “change for better,” emphasizing continuous improvement. Many organizations a

Conducting A Manual Process Assessment

By John Knotts - July 21st, 2023

A manual process is a task or procedure that is performed without the assistance of automation or technology. These tasks typically require human effort, physical actions, and direct input. Manual processes can range from simple tasks,

The Power of Creativity in Process Improvement Projects

By John Knotts - June 16th, 2023

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve their processes to stay ahead of the curve. While traditional process improvement methodologies play a crucial role,

Maximizing Efficiency with Warehouse Control

By John Knotts - May 19th, 2023

In today’s fast-paced business world, effective warehouse management is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. A well-organized and controlled warehouse can significantly impact overall operational efficiency, customer satis

Eight Tips for Managing Up

By Steve Kane - April 28th, 2023

Managing up is an essential skill that can help you succeed in a rapidly changing environment. As businesses and organizations continue to evolve and adapt to new challenges, it’s critical to develop strategies to effectively com

5S and Spring Cleaning

By John Knotts - April 21st, 2023

What better time than now to talk to you about spring cleaning and 5S? Now, you may be wondering what exactly 5S is, and how it relates to spring cleaning. Well, let me explain. 5S is a methodology used in manufacturing and other indus

Finding Process Improvement Opportunities

By John Knotts - March 17th, 2023

Large organizations that employ process improvement departments and teams often have a list of process improvement projects (typically called the “1 to n list”). These potential projects are prioritized, and practitioners simply ha

Conducting Engaging Virtual Meetings

By John Knotts - February 17th, 2023

In process improvement, it is always best to involve a team. This helps get different points of view and perspectives on a problem. Also, having a team means that you have more people to help you do the work — especially when it

Measuring The Pig In The Python

By John Knotts - January 20th, 2023

Data collection and analysis are critical in process improvement. Data shows progress in process improvement over time and serves as a barometer of process effectiveness and efficiency. Measuring a straightforward process that takes se

Quick Way To Time A Process

By John Knotts - December 16th, 2022

Understanding and measuring process time is one of the most important aspects of process improvement. Much of the waste (muda) in a process causes a process to take longer than it should. When a process takes longer, customers are wait

Going To The Electronic Gemba

By John Knotts - November 18th, 2022

Going to Gemba — where the work is done — is a pretty simple concept. Go where the work is being performed and watch what is happening. What happens when the process is all online? Where everything that is happening, is o

Making Big Problems Into Little Problems

By John Knotts - October 21st, 2022

Over the last couple of months, I have talked about how the Process Improvement Project is different than just a regular Project. This is because, when you start a process improvement project, you do not know what is really happening

A Simple Plan for Starting Your Lean Journey

By Steve Kane - September 23rd, 2022

There are many ways to lead a continuous improvement journey in an organization. A frequent question we get at Gemba Academy is, “Where do I start?” One strategy is to simply start eliminating pain-points in processes. R

How The Project Charter Evolves

By John Knotts - September 16th, 2022

A Project Charter is a contract that clearly explains what the process improvement project is all about, while also clearly stating when the team intends to accomplish the objectives of the project. The Project Charter should be carefu

Root Cause to Solution Identification Simplified

By John Knotts - August 19th, 2022

The one thing that differentiates process improvement projects from regular projects and project management is the methodical way a process improvement practitioner arrives at the root cause and then devises solutions or countermeasure

The Four Types of Measures and Why Each is Important

By John Knotts - July 15th, 2022

Last month, we talked about the Three Most Important Metrics in a Continuous Improvement Culture. They were Workload Volume, Process Cycle Time, and Process Defects. Data is key to process management and improvement and The Continuou

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